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Mass Evacuations From Floods Along China-North Korea Border

24 August 2010 02:39 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. More than 127,000 people have been evacuated in northeastern China following severe flooding that has already claimed at least 1,400 lives this month, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

China’s official Xinhua news agency reported Sunday that in Dandong city alone, located on the rain-swollen Yalu River which separates China from North Korea, more than 94,000 residents were evacuated amid widespread power and communications failures. At least 5,100 residents have been evacuated from affected areas in North Korea.

Downpours since Thursday have led to flash floods that swept away homes about 100 kilometers northeast of Dandong, killing four people. Weather forecasters warn up to 25 centimeters more rain could hit the area in the next 24 hours.

Flood-related incidents in China this year have claimed nearly 4,000 lives - victims who are either confirmed dead or have disappeared in the torrents. Chinese emergency officials say the casualty toll from massive mudslides earlier this month in Zhouqu County in northwest China’s Gansu Province stands at 1,434 dead, with 331 people still missing.