Floods, landslides kill 35 in China

BEIJING (AFP) - At least 35 people were killed after violent rainstorms triggered floods and landslides in various parts of China, state media reported Saturday.

At least 25 people were killed and 37 went missing in northwest China after continuous downpours began to hit cities and counties in Shaanxi province Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the local flood control headquarters.

Meanwhile, another Xinhua report said at least ten were killed and two missing after a landslide hit a hydropower station under construction in southwest China's Sichuan province Friday.

The flow of mud and rocks triggered by rainstorms hit the construction site in Ya'an city and a group of workers were engulfed whilst trying to escape, the provincial disaster relief office was cited as saying.

More rainstorms were expected to hit Sichuan in the next few days, the report said.

The latest deaths continue a devastating run of weather for China, with the Ministry of Civil Affairs reporting that natural disasters had left 712 people dead and 163 missing in July.