Rainstorms, flash floods kill 52 in southwest China

Torrential rains in May and June hit 293 townships in Guizhou province, paralysing local transport and interrupting telecommunications and power supplies, Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 30 people died and 2,400 houses collapsed in the worst-hit county of Wangmo where 1,500 hectares (3,705 acres) of farmland were also damaged, said the report, quoting a local party secretary.

The disasters have also caused 1.3 billion yuan (162.5 million dollars) in economic losses, the Guizhou provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters estimated.

The rainy season is forecast to last until mid-July.