15 dead, 25 missing in Hunan Province flood

Xinhua, June 10, 2011

China's flood death toll continued to rise Friday, with 15 more confirmed dead in the central Hunan Province alone.

The deaths were reported in rain-triggered mountain torrents and mud-rock flows in the early hours of Friday in Linxiang and Yueyang, two county-level cities in the ancient city of Yueyang, the city's flood control and drought relief headquarters said in a press release.

Torrential rain hit most parts of Yueyang city Thursday night, causing mud-rock flows in Guanshan village, Zhanqiao township of Linxiang, killing five villagers at the scene and leaving 19 others missing, it said.

Floods and subsequent geological disasters battered three townships in Yueyang county early Friday, leaving five dead and six missing.

The neighboring Pingjiang county also reported five deaths in the rain-triggered floods, the document said.

It said rescue work was continuing.

The latest round of rain and floods also battered the central Hubei Province, killing 18 in Xianning City alone.