Floods kill 112 across China, 91 missing, 400000 evacuated

The most affected province is Hebei in northern China, where at least 52,000 homes have collapsed leaving tens of thousands of homeless.

Of the 72 people killed in Hebei, 25 are from Xingtai city.

Local authorities have evacuated almost 3.10 lakh people due to rainstorms this week that have flattened homes and caused huge economic losses.

At least 114 people have been killed in Hebei, with 111 missing and 53,000 houses destroyed, officials say.

Village houses and field partially submerged by flood waters in Gaoyang Town, Shayang County, central China’s Hubei Province. At least 15 people have been killed and eight are missing there following violent thunderstorms.

Other online footage showed locals clashing with phalanxes of police, with one video showing police lining up to form a road blockade that the person filming claimed was meant to stop residents from travelling to Beijing to report the incident.

On Saturday night, Xingtai Mayor Dong Xiaoyu made a public apology and bowed at a news conference for the mishandling of the flash flood. He promised a thorough investigation and to hold negligent officials responsible.

The financial media Caixin reported on Saturday said the river narrowed near the village, and a severe blockage because of a utility construction forced the floodwater to surge over the river banks and rush through the village.

So far 8.6 million people have been affected by the flooding, according to local reports, with upwards of 300,000 forced to leave their homes.