09 July

Massive rain in China that continues to pound mainly areas along the Yangtze River has left more than 130 people dead or missing.

Downpours have continued on and off in inland provinces, including Anhui and Jiangxi, as well as Zhejiang in eastern China, triggering mudslides and floods.

State-run China Central Television reported that as of Wednesday morning, 132 people have died or remain missing.

CCTV also reported that a landslide in Huanggang City in Hubei Province on Wednesday buried seven homes. It added that efforts by local firefighters to rescue nine missing people are ongoing.

Flooded roads also in Huanggang City left more than 570 university entrance exam takers stranded from their accommodations.

Local authorities rescued the applicants with heavy construction machinery and took them to the entrance exam venue.

Water was discharged from the Three Gorges Dam in the upper reaches of the Yangtze in late June to prevent the level from reaching capacity.

Chinese weather officials warn that heavy rain may continue over wide areas for the next few days.

NHK