The summer rains have come, at least to parts of drought-parched central and southern China. Hopes are growing that they will break the worst drought in 60 years. The rain was so heavy in parts of southern China that one person has been left dead and 15 people missing after flash floods in Guizhou. Houses have been destroyed and power supplies and road links cut. In Hunan, 16,000 people had to be evacuated from Loudi in the face of flooding triggered by the torrential rains. In all 60,000 people have been evacuated in the southwest and east, state media report.
Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters says that while the downpours have helped ease the along the Yangtze river, more than 2 million people still face water shortages. However, heavy rain is in the forecast for eastern and southern China over the next three days.
China Bystander 