Over 100 killed, missing due to severe flooding in China

Heavy flooding across central and southern China has left some 112 people dead or missing in recent days as a typhoon is forecast to make landfall there in the coming days.

China’s Civil Affairs Ministry said some 16 million people have been affected by heavy rains that have submerged vast areas near China’s longest river, Yangtze, according to the Beijing News.

Some media reports have put the toll from the natural disaster at around 180.

The report added that the typhoon which is expected to land on Friday could cause “serious” flooding in the area near Taihu Lake, close to Shanghai, as water levels there are at their highest record since 1954.

The ministry also said 1.34 million hectares of cropland had been damaged and another 157,800 hectares had been destroyed by Monday morning, inflicting economic losses of 20.43 billion yuan.

Circulating images showed a sports stadium in the central province of Hubei turned into a “giant bathtub” by the rainfall.

On Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid a visit to Anhui, one of the hardest-hit provinces, to make sure rescue operations are going on smoothly.

SS