Floods kill 379, but heavy rains easing

Rain and floods in southern China have killed 379 people, left 141 missing and displaced 4.54 million people, Bloomberg reported. Heavy rains in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi continued into the weekend, potentially worsening economic losses earlier estimated at US$12.1 billion. However, state media reported that heavy rainfalls have ended and that floodwaters in some affected regions had begun to recede. Last week, Premier Wen Jiabao visited Fuzhou, Jiangxi province to ask local officials to contribute more to flood victims. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said 68.7 million people and 4.36 million hectares of farmland have been affected by the rains and floods.