Rainstorms in China this year have left 307 people dead and 113 missing as of Thursday, Xinhua quoted the country's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH) as saying. Rainstorms also damaged about 260,000 houses and flooded 5.33 million hectares of farmland. Direct economic losses hit 46.5 billion yuan (6.8 billion U.S. dollars), said a statement from the SFDH. Zhang Zhitong, deputy director of the Office of the headquarters, said in the statement that the nation had prepared for frequent rain and storms since April 1, which cause floods, landslides and mud-rock flows, especially in the southern regions. Heavy rains since July 24 had killed 70 and left 51 missing in the provinces of Sichuan, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality. He said about 130 rivers nationwide saw water levels rise above their warning lines. The statement said the situation was still severe as water levels at Taihu Lake, spanning Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, reached 3.66 meters as of 4 p.m., Thursday, 0.16 meter higher than the warning line. Moderate and heavy rain is expected to sweep Jiangsu and Zhejiang over the next two days, the SFDH warned, ordering local authorities to strengthen preparations against possible flooding.
