65 killed in China storms

BEIJING - The toll in storms in southern China has risen to 65, officials said.

About 2.55 million people and 100,000 hectares of land were affected. At least 14 people were missing and 9,900 buildings have been damaged, Xinhua cited a statement released Friday by the state flood control and drought relief department.

Heavy rains lashed the provinces of Guangdong, Sichuan and Guizhou in southern China, causing floods and mudflows since Wednesday, leading the authorities to declare an emergency Friday.

Teams have been dispatched to storm-hit regions to undertake relief work.