Toll in China floods reaches 50

BEIJING - At least 50 people have died while 15 are missing following floods, landslides and mud flows triggered by days of torrential rains in central and southern China, the ministry of civil affairs said Saturday.

Over 17.2 million people in nine provinces have been affected by the floods while over 597,000 people have been relocated since July 1, Xinhua reported citing the ministry’s disaster relief update.

Around 946,500 hectares of farmland were damaged. More than 42,000 houses collapsed and another 121,000 were partially damaged, the ministry said, estimating that economic losses could reach 8.9 billion yuan ($1.3 billion).

In June, torrential rains resulted in 260 deaths and left 211 missing in 11 provinces.

Meanwhile, four miners were killed in a gas explosion after heavy rain cut off electricity and ventilation at a coal mine in Xishui county Saturday morning. Seven of the 25 miners managed to escape when the explosion occurred, while the remaining 14 were rescued later.