Storms leave 40 dead, 18 missing in China DINGXI, China, May 13 (UPI) -- The death toll from a brief but intense storm in mountainous northwestern China had risen to 40 with 18 other people still missing, authorities said Saturday. The state-run Xinhua News Agency said the heavy rain and hail in Gansu province's Minxian County lasted for just an hour Thursday, but affected 358,000 people. Nearly 30,000 were evacuated from their homes and 87 were hospitalized. Xu Guangyao, director of the county civil affairs bureau, said the extreme weather blocked roads, destroyed farmland, collapsed houses and disrupted power and telecommunication services, Xinhua said.