At least 30 people have died and 35 others are missing in a city in southeastern China after days of heavy rains tied to a tropical storm, state media said Thursday.
The death toll rose sharply from a previously reported four deaths in villages in Zixing, a city in Hunan province. In addition, a mudslide from the same rains killed 15 people on Sunday in another part of the province.
Earlier this week, state broadcaster CCTV showed helicopters being used to get relief supplies into severely flooded areas in Zixing.
By midday Thursday, roadways, electricity and communications had been largely restored in the city’s eight most affected townships, state media said.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, visiting flood-hit villages in Zixing, urged all-out efforts to find the missing as search and rescue work continued.
More than 11,000 people were evacuated from the city of Zixing after some areas endured record rainfall of 645ml in just 24 hours, state news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday.
The days of torrential rain were induced by Tropical Storm Gaemi after it came onshore in China at typhoon strength late last week, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
