Landslides kill at least 127 in China (About 2,000 more are missing)

Source: CNN International



The death toll rose to at least 127 people on Sunday after massive landslides hit northwest China, state media reported.

About 2,000 more people are missing after the landslides, which were triggered by heavy rains, Xinhua news agency said.

The landslides occurred early Sunday morning after heavy rains started pummeling the area Saturday, authorities said.
They caused the Bailong River to become obstructed and overflow, and sent water rushing water over its banks, state-run CCTV reported.

Mao Shengwu, head of Gannan district, said the water levels were rising as much as 1 meter (3.3 feet) every five minutes.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/08/china.landslides/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn#fbid=5tFS21of5oJ&wom=false

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Asia flooding plunges millions into misery



By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer – 42 mins ago

BEIJING – Floods and landslides across Asia plunged millions into misery Sunday as rubble-strewn waters killed at least 127 in northwestern China and 4 million Pakistanis faced food shortages amid their country's worst-ever flooding.

In Indian-controlled Kashmir, rescuers raced to find 500 people still missing in flash floods that have already killed 132, while North Korea's state media said high waters had destroyed thousands of homes and damaged crops.

Terrified residents fled to high ground or upper stories of apartment buildings in China's Gansu province after a debris-blocked river overflowed during the night, smashing buildings and overturning cars. An estimated 2,000 more people were missing in the latest deluge in a summer that has seen China's worst seasonal flooding in a decade.

Worst hit was the county seat of Zhouqu in the province's Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where houses buckled and streets were smeared with a yard (meter) of mud and water.

Full article with more details: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100808/ap_on_re_as/as_asia_floods