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Hubei landslides, floods kill 4

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-30 07:58

WUHAN -- Landslides and floods caused by torrential rain have killed four people and left six missing in Hubei province over the past three days, local authorities said on Friday.

Houses along the lower reaches of Majiahe River are demolished by the rushing torrents in Shiyan City of central China's Hubei Province on May 27, 2009. [Xinhua] More Photos

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From Tuesday to Thursday, downpours hit 20 cities and counties in the province, affecting 850,000 people. The floods swamped 133,230 hectares of farmland and damaged 825 houses, said the provincial civil affairs department.

The provincial flood control headquarters also warned that 30 reservoirs in the areas were holding water over their maximum limits.
Local authorities have evacuated thousands of residents to safe places.

The local government estimated direct losses from the rainstorms at 341 million yuan (US$50 million).