HEAVY RAINS IN SOUTHERN CHINA CAUSE MASS EVACUATIONS

More than 550,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to heavy rain in southern and central China since the 1st July. The weather has destroyed houses, flooded roads and damaged a dam, killing at least 16 people as well. Emergency services have distributed relief materials, set up temporary shelters and are trying to reinforce the dam. Local authorities have estimated that the severe weather has caused at least US$31 million in damages thus far