Fifty killed, 160 missing in China rain, landslides

13 July Times of India

At least 50 people have been killed and over 160 missing following torrential rain and landslides in China, state media reported .

While 30 people were killed in floods and landslides and over 160 missing in southwest Sichuan Province, at least 20 people were killed in Yan'an in northwest Shaanxi Province. Heavy rainfall over the past week also inflicted severe damage on the areas hit in Sichuan by a major earthquake five years ago. Rain-triggered landslides and house collapses have led to casualties in Baota District of Yan'an, Yanchuan and Ansai Counties, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The ruins of the 2008 earthquake-devastated old town of Beichuan in a ravine between two mountains have been partially submerged, said Han Guijun, an official in charge of the preservation projects of the old town of Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County.

The recent severe rainfall caused the old town to become waterlogged with some areas under seven meters of water. Sites, including a cemetery for earthquake victims, have been submerged due to the overflowing Jianjiang River that runs through the old town, Han said.

About 20,000 Beichuan residents were dead or missing after the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake in May 2008 and thousands of victims were buried in the ruins. Meanwhile, an orange wave warning for Typhoon Soulik was issued in China.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center said Soulik is expected to whip up sea waves as high as 11 meters in the southern part of the East China Sea and in waters near the Diaoyu Islands. Soulik is moving toward waters east of Taiwan, as well as Fujian and Zhejiang, and is expected to hit or pass waters near Taiwan late today before landing on the mainland on saturday.