Floods kill at least 154 across China, leave scores missing

By Park Si-soo

At least 154 people were killed and 124 missing in torrential rains that have swept through China, officials said Saturday. Most of the casualties were reported from a northern province where villagers complained about lack of warning before a deadly flash flood.

The rains, which began on Monday, have flooded streams, triggered landslides and destroyed homes across the country, according to news reports. Most of the fatalities were reported in the northern province of Hebei.

More than 300,000 people were evacuated in Hebei, and the province made another round of appropriations of tents, blankets, rain boots and generators, the department said.

In the Hebei city of Xingtai alone, 25 people were killed and another 13 were missing, according to the Associated Press.