Floods leave 13 dead, 23 missing in SW China

Floods destroy the Ganxigou section of the 210 National Highway in the Qinghua county of Wanyuan city, Southwest China’s Sichuan province, July 17, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

CHENGDU - At least 13 people were killed and 23 others remained missing after the worst rainstorm of this year lashed Sichuan province Thursday night, the provincial flood control authorities said Saturday.

The victims were killed by mountain torrents, landslides, house collapses or other rain-triggered disasters, according to Sichuan's flood control and drought relief headquarters.

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The rain forced the Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, to close Friday, affecting more than 100 flights and at least 10,000 passengers.

The rain stopped in Chengdu Saturday and the airport was working around the clock to handle a record 640 flight landings and takeoffs.

Many Chinese regions have reported casualties and losses caused by the rain.

Hubei province has seen 59 people dead and four missing by Saturday since heavy rains began to hit many regions on July 3, which incurred 8.92 billion yuan in economic losses.

Shaanxi Province has reported four deaths since Thursday when downpours began to hit 13 counties and forced the evacuation of 260 people.

The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, China's longest, raised water discharge speed again Saturday to save dam space for another round of rainfall coming in two or three days.

The Three Gorges navigation administration said Saturday that it will close the ship lock if the floods gush in at a speed of up to 45,000 cubic meters per second.

At least 146 people had been confirmed dead and 40 are missing in continuous rainstorms and consequent floods, reportedly worst in years in some regions, according to the Civil Affairs Ministry.