225 killed or missing in China rains; protests break out

Over 52,000 houses collapse, 1.60 lakh houses damaged, over seven lakh hectares of crops destroyed; direct economic losses of over 15 billion yuan ($2.2 billion)..

In this July 21, 2016, photo, rescuers use a raft to transport people along a flooded street in Shenyang in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. North and northeast China have been swept by heavy rain this week, causing 176 deaths and a lot of property damage.

As many as 225 people have been killed or missing in heavy torrential rain and floods in China as thousands of angry residents took to the streets over late disaster warning and ineffective rescue efforts. Local authorities have evacuated nearly 3.10 lakh people due to rainstorms this week that have flattened homes and caused huge economic losses.

The toll in heavy rains this week mounted to 105 people dead and 104 others listed missing in north China’s Hubei Province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

Crop damage, house collapse

Flooding and rain-triggered landslips have caused the collapse of more than 52,000 houses and damage to 1.60 lakh houses. Over seven lakh hectares of crops have also been destroyed, leading to direct economic losses of over 15 billion yuan (USD 2.2 billion), the report said.

The worst-hit area was reported to be Xingtai city where at least 25 people were killed and another 13 missing, including children, after which people took to the streets to protest over inadequate rescue efforts.

The news of heavy casualties in Xingtai, just 400 kms south of Beijing, only began emerging over the past 24 hours when thousands of local residents took to streets to protest against the allegedly late disaster warning and ineffective rescue efforts, the Hong Kong-based

South China Morning Post reported on Saturday.

12 villages submerged

Floodwaters burst river banks and submerged at least 12 villages. Daxian village is one of the worst-hit, where at least nine people, including five schoolchildren, are dead or missing, the Post quoted media reports. It said authorities in Xingtai initially denied any casualties.

Angry villagers blocked a main road on Friday, accusing local government of failing to alert them about the flooding.

The Post also posted an online video in which a big force of policemen is seen controlling large public protests.

The death toll has constantly mounted since last month as heavy rains and a typhoon battered different parts of China, causing heavy flooding and disruptions.

Xi asks Army to help in rescue ops

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed the Army to rush the areas of flooding and assist relief work