At least 61 people have been killed and 356,000 evacuated from their homes as heavy rain and floods swept through large parts of southern and central China this week, Chinese rescue authorities said.

In a notice published late on Thursday, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said 9,300 homes have collapsed and 3.71 million hectares of farmland damaged during the floods, with direct economic losses now estimated at 13.35 billion yuan ($1.93bn).

It said more than 4,300 people had been rescued from floodwaters, which have affected regions stretching from Guangdong province in the southeast to southwest China's Chongqing on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river.

During the summer, China routinely suffers from droughts in the far north and floods in the south.

The emergency ministry has warned that northern regions face even lower precipitation levels this year, while heavy rains are expected to raise flood risks on the Yellow River's upstream. </s> As many as 61 people have been killed and 356,000 evacuated from their homes as heavy rain and floods swept through large parts of southern and central China this week, Chinese rescue authorities said.

In a notice published late on Thursday, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said 9,300 homes have collapsed and 3.71 million hectares of farmland damaged during the floods, with direct economic losses now estimated at 13.35 billion yuan ($1.93 billion).

It said more than 4,300 people had been rescued from floodwaters, which have affected regions stretching from Guangdong province in the southeast to southwest China's Chongqing on the upper reaches of the Yangtze river.

During the summer, China routinely suffers from droughts in the far north and floods in the south. The emergency ministry has warned that northern regions face even lower precipitation levels this year, while heavy rains are expected to raise flood risks on the Yellow river's upstream. Subscribe to Moneycontrol Pro and gain access to curated markets data, exclusive trading recommendations, independent equity analysis, actionable investment ideas, nuanced takes on macro, corporate and policy actions, practical insights from market gurus and much more. </s> The moment a giant landslide buried a road in China has been caught on camera

The terrifying moment a giant wave of dirt and trees buried a road and wiped out cars in its path in the Fujian province of China has been captured on camera.

Emergency crews managed to free a man who was trapped by the landslide after three hours but he died on the way to hospital.

The cause of the landslide is under investigation.

A bridge also collapsed in south China's Guangdong Province but the total number of casualties remains unclear.

As many as 61 people have been killed and 356,000 evacuated from their homes as heavy rain and floods swept through large parts of southern and central China, rescue authorities also said.

In a notice, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said 9,300 homes have collapsed and 3.71 million hectares of farmland damaged during the floods, with direct economic losses now estimated at 13.35 billion yuan ($2.79 billion).

Ye Jianchun, the Vice-Minister of Water Resources, said that 83 people have died or gone missing nationwide since the start of this year's flood season.

Mr Ye also said 6.75 million people in 22 provinces have been affected. </s> SHANGHAI
• As many as 61 people have been killed and 356,000 evacuated from their homes as heavy rain and floods swept through large parts of southern and central China this week, the country's rescue authorities said.

In a notice published late on Thursday, China's Ministry of Emergency Management said that 9,300 homes have collapsed and 3.71 million ha of farmland were damaged during the floods, which began on June 6.

Direct economic losses due to the floods were estimated at 13.35 billion yuan (S$2.6 billion).

It said more than 4,300 people had been rescued from floodwaters, which have affected regions stretching from Guangdong province in the south-east to south-west China's Chongqing on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

At least 6 million people have been affected since the start of the flooding season, a senior official said on Tuesday.

More than 20 provincial regions were hit by the floods, with the Guangxi region and the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangxi and Fujian suffering heavy losses, said Mr Ye Jianchun, Vice-Minister of Water Resources.
• Number of homes destroyed, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management. Estimated cost of direct economic losses due to the floods. Number of people affected since the start of the flooding season.

In Guangdong province, at least two vehicles plunged into a river after part of a bridge collapsed in the urban area of Heyuan city early yesterday, according to the local road management authorities.

One person was rescued, but the exact number of casualties remained unknown as the search and rescue work is under way.

Heyuan is among the areas worst-hit by the floods.

A total of 13 people have been killed as a result of the torrential downpours which have destroyed roads and toppled houses. Two people were still missing as of Thursday.

In the Guangxi region, which borders Vietnam, the week-long downpours have triggered floods in six cities, killing at least 12 and affecting more than 570,000 people, Xinhua reported on Wednesday, citing the regional emergency management department.

In the province of Jiangxi, the floods have affected more than 2.8 million people in nine cities and forced the evacuation of about 340,000 people as of Thursday. Local governments there have sent relief materials, including food, water and clothes, to the affected areas.

Mr Ye said the country has also been hit by droughts which have affected more than 4 million people and 640,000ha of crops as of this month.

He said there were great challenges to the flood and drought prevention efforts this year due to the adverse weather conditions.

The country will strengthen prevention and control of floods and droughts by preventing severe meteorological risks and providing emergency rescue and disaster relief, added Mr Ye.

During the summer, China routinely suffers from droughts in the far north and floods in the south.

The Emergency Ministry has warned that northern regions face even lower precipitation levels this year, while heavy rains are expected to raise flood risks on the Yellow River's upstream portion. </s> Footage shows the moment a landslide hits a road in the Fujian province in southeast China.

Days of heavy rain and flooding in central and southern parts of the country have killed up to 61 people. Thousands of people have been rescued and hundreds of thousands have been evacuated from their homes. </s> Cars plunge into river as bridge collapses in southern China

Cars plunge into river as bridge collapses in southern China

Two people are missing after a road bridge plunged into a river and sent two vehicles into the water in southern China.

Heyuan city police said the 120-metre (390-foot) section collapsed early on Friday morning.

China's Xinhua News Agency said two nearby security guards rescued a 44-year-old man but two other people are still missing.

Dramatic footage aired on state broadcaster CCTV showed two arches of the six-arch bridge, which spans the Dongjiang river in Guangdong province, falling apart within seconds.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation but it came as southern China was battered by heavy rain which has brought flooding. At least 61 people have died.

In Longyan City in the Fujian Province, a landslide swept cars away and one man was trapped in his vehicle.

A local resident who went to the market was buried by the landslide.

His family could not reach him by phone and there was no response from him when rescuers shouted his name.

His rescue is still underway and his condition remained unknown, according to CCTV.

Hundreds of homes and businesses have been evacuated amid the heavy rains, affecting more than two million people across southern China.

More than 20,000 homes in the south-west region of Guangxi are without power, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported. </s> A landslide has hit the Fujian province in China. Up to 61 people have been killed following days of heavy rain and flooding in central and southern parts of the country. Thousands of people have been rescued and hundreds of thousands have been evacuated from their homes.

This video has been optimised for mobile viewing on the BBC News app. The BBC News app is available from the Apple App Store for iPhone and Google Play Store for Android. </s> TOKYO (AP) - The death toll from heavy rain and flooding in southern Japan this week has risen to 15 as rescue workers reached isolated villages where at least six others are missing and feared dead.

Heavy rain warnings are still in place for parts of the southern island of Kyushu on Saturday, days after Typhoon Nanmadol swept across Japan, triggering floods and mudslides that wrecked hundreds of homes, roads and rice terraces.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says Saturday 12 dead have so far been found in the hardest-hit Asakura city in Fukuoka prefecture and three others in neighboring Oita prefecture.

Firefighters inspect the collapsed houses in the mud following the flooding caused by heavy rain in Asakura, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan, Saturday, July 8, 2017. The southern island of Kyushu suffered heavy rain after Typhoon Nanmadol swept across Japan earlier in the week, dumping large amounts of rain that damaged homes, roads and rice fields. (Koji Harada/Kyodo News via AP)

Officials say 12,000 troops and rescuers continued searching for the six missing and clearing debris off roads. </s> MUMBAI/BENGALURU (REUTERS) - Floods brought by heavy rains and overflowing rivers across large swathes of western and southern India have killed at least 33 people and forced the evacuation of 180,000 from their homes, officials said on Thursday (Aug 8).

Seasonal monsoon rains from June to September cause deaths and mass displacement across South Asia every year, but they deliver more than 70 per cent of India's rainfall, crucial for farm output and economic growth.

The tally of dead in the floods was 25 in the western state of Maharashtra by Thursday, officials said, while government data in the neighbouring southern state of Karnataka showed eight dead.

Rivers burst their banks in some parts of Maharashtra after authorities released water from dams brimming with as much as 670mm of rain received in a week.

"If we get more rainfall, then we have no option but to release water in rivers," said administrative official Deepak Mhaisekar, adding that many reservoirs around the state's industrial city of Pune were full.

A boat full of villagers trying to escape the floods capsized on Thursday, killing at least nine people, with rescuers searching for three or four still feared missing, he added.

Thousands of trucks were stuck on a national highway linking the financial capital of Mumbai with the southern technology hub of Bengaluru, as waters submerged the road in some places, Mr Mhaisekar said.

In Karnataka, officials said some major reservoirs were nearly full, and warned that nearby villages could be hit by large discharges of water.

"We have sought help from the central government to rescue any people who may get stranded because of the floods," Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa told media.

Temples and electric poles were underwater as the floods flowed unabated, in video images posted by a journalist in a northern district of Karnataka.

Weather officials have forecast heavy rain in the region, including the nearby states of Kerala and Goa, over the next three to five days.

Kerala weather officials called a "red alert" in four districts they saw at risk of receiving more than 200mm of rain on Thursday.

Schools and colleges in many places have been shut since Monday and are unlikely to open this week, authorities have said.
At least 61 people have been killed and 356,000 evacuated from their homes as heavy rain and floods swept through large parts of southern and central China this week.