floods snatch 111 lives in China

BEIJING: At least 111 people have been killed and 167 missing since past 11 days due to floods that hit northwest China's Shaanxi province, authorities said.

The first floods, from the rain-swollen Hanjiang River and its tributaries, hit Shaanxi's Ankang, Hanzhong, and Shangluo cities from July 14 to 19. Another flood that began Thursday worsened the catastrophe, Xinhua reported Monday.

The floods have affected about 4.25 million people and forced 703,000 people to be evacuated. In the worst-hit Ankang City, 63 people were killed, 119 missing and 2,824 injured, according to a statement from the provincial government.

The floods also caused an estimated loss of 9.56 billion yuan.