16 killed in heavy rains and landslides in China

Sixteen people were killed and an equal number went missing in heavy rains and landslides in China, officials said today.
At least 10 people were killed after heavy rain caused a landslide in Pianpo village in southwest Guizhou Province today. Seven persons have been rescued so far.
The landslide hit early morning and buried 29 people under the rubble. Rescuers pulled 17 people out of the rubble, but 10 were pronounced dead, the county government said.
The search for the remaining 12 was still on, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The region has seen heavy rain over the past few days.

Also six persons were killed and four others went missing after a rainstorm hit central Hubei Province yesterday.

As of today, 19,000 people have been relocated to safe places, according to the provincial civil affairs department.
A total of 656 homes collapsed and 110,860 hectares of crops were damaged due to storm. Direct economic losses have reached USD 88.8 million, Xinhua said.
After cracks were found in a newly-built residential building in Dongbao District in the city of Jingmen, the 316 residents of the building were evacuated last night.
Disaster relief efforts are under way. Tents, folding beds, quilts and clothes have been sent to the affected areas.

Also 11 tourists who were listed missing while on their way in a forest in central China have been found safe and sound, local officials said.
Contact was lost with the group of photographers, from eastern Zhejiang Province, yesterday while they were exploring an unpopulated area in Shennongjia Forest District, Hubei Province. They were in the company of a local tour guide.
Two rescue teams consisting of over 30 people battled thick fog and rain to search a steep hillside. The group, although disorientated were safe, the report said.