At least 20 die as rain causes landslides

Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily  |   2008-11-3  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

TWENTY people are confirmed dead and 42 missing after landslides and mud-rock flows hit southwest China's Yunnan Province over the weekend, according to local authorities.

The disasters hit the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture and four counties and a district of the provincial capital Kunming, the provincial civil affairs department said yesterday.

More than 1,000 houses collapsed or were damaged and about 45,000 hectares of crops were destroyed.

Tents, quilts and clothes are being sent to the areas. Casualties and damages are also being assessed.

Local media outlets reported rain over the past few days in the region, dominated by the Yi ethnic minority.

China News Service said at least 300 people were "seriously affected" by landslides, but gave no details. The report said they struck in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, a cargo train running from the provincial capital to Dali hit mud and rocks on its way and was derailed on Saturday night. No casualties were reported in this accident.

A number of train services along the Kunming-Dali railway were suspended yesterday.

Railway authorities had organized rescue teams to repair lines damaged by mudslides but their efforts were hampered by continuous heavy rain and the threat of more mudslides, local media outlets reported.

More rain is expected to hit Kunming and surrounding areas today, according to local weathermen.