BEIJING (AFP) - Torrential rains accompanied by floods have claimed at least 15 dead in Sichuan (southwestern China), displaced 100,000 and destroyed thousands of houses, China News reported Saturday.
The agency said China also that at least seven tourists were killed Saturday and more than ten others are missing after their group, with 34 members, was caught in a sudden flood at a meeting of rafting in the valley of Tanzhang, near Chongqing, the provincial metropolis.
New China does not specify what country are from these tourists.
Since July 3, torrential rains that hit the region have caused flooding that washed away 10,100 houses and damaged 29,000 more, according to the agency quoting the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
At least 12 cities and 43 counties were affected and 99,000 people had to be relocated, "says New China, for whom the results could worsen with the persistent rain on the north-east of the province.
The south and central China are annually affected by deadly floods during the rainy season.
