China rushes to fix dams, 9,000 square miles flooded

FENGKOU, China (Reuters) – China has posted hundreds of police and rescue officials to shore up dams threatening to burst under torrential rain that has already flooded 9,000 square miles of crops and homes.

The rain and floods, concentrated in the southern industrial hub of Guangdong, have killed at least 171 people and left 52 missing since the start of the annual flood season and forecasters have warned of more downpours in coming days.

More than 1.66 million people have been evacuated across nine provinces and regions in southern China since major flooding started 11 days ago.

Rain-triggered floods have toppled 134,000 houses, damaged or destroyed 2.32 million hectares (9,000 square miles) of crops and caused economic losses of 27.7 billion yuan ($4 billion).

Reuters