More rain in northern China takes death toll in floods to 13

BEIJING – At least three more people have died in heavy rain in northern China, state media said on Aug 19, taking the death toll to 13 in recent storms across the region, with five still missing and no let-up in rain forecast.

Heavier-than-usual downpours have battered parts of China in extreme weather since July, with the East Asian monsoon rain stalling over its north and south.

Three bodies were retrieved from flood waters in the Inner Mongolia city of Ordos, the official news agency Xinhua said, while three people were reported missing about 70km away near the banks of the Yellow River.

Rescue workers are scouring for the three missing people in Ordos, in an area that is also close to one of China’s rare earth hubs, the city of Baotou.

The downpour on Aug 18 was the first of three forecast for the next few days, TV news said.

It dumped more than 204mm of rain in less than 24 hours on the district where the bodies were found, or more than double the monthly average for August, weather authorities said.

On Aug 16, a flash flood after a river burst its banks in the region’s grasslands killed at least 10, sweeping away 13 campers on the outskirts of the city of Bayannur, about 350km north-west of Ordos.

One person was rescued, while two are missing.

Heavy rainfall and severe floods that meteorologists link to climate change pose major challenges for the authorities, threatening to overwhelm ageing flood defences, displace millions and lead to economic losses running into billions. REUTERS