Shanghai Daily news

The death toll in flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rains in central and southwest China this week has risen by at least 13 to 49, a state news agency said today.

Another 23 people also are missing following the fatalities in Hubei, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces and the giant industrial city of Chongqing, the Xinhua News Agency said. It said 403,000 people were evacuated after the rains destroyed more than 20,000 homes.

The deaths are in addition to the 128 people killed last week by flooding in other parts of southern China.

Flooding destroyed crops and disrupted phone service and supplies of water and power, according to state media.

Total losses are estimated at 1.8 billion yuan (US$235 million), Xinhua said.