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| More floods threaten south China | More floods threaten south China |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dykes and embankments are being reinforced in southern China amid some of the worst storms in decades. | Dykes and embankments are being reinforced in southern China amid some of the worst storms in decades. |
| At least 63 people have already died in nine provinces in the south - China's industrial heartland - this month, said the civil affairs ministry. | At least 63 people have already died in nine provinces in the south - China's industrial heartland - this month, said the civil affairs ministry. |
| It said 1.66 million people had been evacuated from the hardest-hit areas over the past 10 days. | It said 1.66 million people had been evacuated from the hardest-hit areas over the past 10 days. |
| Up to 70,000 of those being evacuated are from Wenchuan county in Sichuan - the epicentre of May's deadly quake. | Up to 70,000 of those being evacuated are from Wenchuan county in Sichuan - the epicentre of May's deadly quake. |
| Crops submerged | Crops submerged |
| Flooding from the recent heavy rain has destroyed tens of thousands of homes and submerged swathes of farmland, said the civil affairs ministry. | Flooding from the recent heavy rain has destroyed tens of thousands of homes and submerged swathes of farmland, said the civil affairs ministry. |
| The ministry is quoted as saying the floods are the worst in decades, and puts economic losses so far at 14.5bn yuan ($2.1bn). | The ministry is quoted as saying the floods are the worst in decades, and puts economic losses so far at 14.5bn yuan ($2.1bn). |
| High tides and flood water meant the Xijiang River rose by metres | High tides and flood water meant the Xijiang River rose by metres |
| Soldiers have been deployed to reinforce the banks of rivers across the south. | Soldiers have been deployed to reinforce the banks of rivers across the south. |
| Rivers in the country's prosperous Pearl River delta are suffering "not only the biggest-volume floods in over 50 years but simultaneously also the highest tides in over 10 years", said a report by the water resources office in Guangdong province, according to Reuters news agency. | Rivers in the country's prosperous Pearl River delta are suffering "not only the biggest-volume floods in over 50 years but simultaneously also the highest tides in over 10 years", said a report by the water resources office in Guangdong province, according to Reuters news agency. |
| "The water came up to here," said one 64-year-old farmer, pointing to a spot on a river embankment three or four metres (10-12 feet) above the level of a river in Guangdong. | "The water came up to here," said one 64-year-old farmer, pointing to a spot on a river embankment three or four metres (10-12 feet) above the level of a river in Guangdong. |
| "It washed away all my cabbages," he told Reuters. | "It washed away all my cabbages," he told Reuters. |
| In neighbouring Guangxi province, water levels on the Xijiang River are also said to be several metres above maximum safe levels. | In neighbouring Guangxi province, water levels on the Xijiang River are also said to be several metres above maximum safe levels. |
| Authorities say that in total this summer season, floods may have claimed up to 200 lives. | Authorities say that in total this summer season, floods may have claimed up to 200 lives. |
| Even so, they remain less deadly than floods in recent years - such as in 1998, when more than 4,000 people reportedly died. | Even so, they remain less deadly than floods in recent years - such as in 1998, when more than 4,000 people reportedly died. |
| Inflation fears | Inflation fears |
| The National Meteorological Centre has forecast more downpours over the next two days in nine provinces - including already hard-hit Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi. | The National Meteorological Centre has forecast more downpours over the next two days in nine provinces - including already hard-hit Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi. |
| But the floods are not confined to the south - authorities have also expressed concern that the Yellow River, the country's second biggest, could also burst. | But the floods are not confined to the south - authorities have also expressed concern that the Yellow River, the country's second biggest, could also burst. |
| That brings the risk of flooding to the central or northern provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong. | That brings the risk of flooding to the central or northern provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong. |
| The destruction of crops risks inflationary price spikes in local food markets, and inspectors have been ordered to clamp down on unacceptably high price hikes, reported Associated Press. | The destruction of crops risks inflationary price spikes in local food markets, and inspectors have been ordered to clamp down on unacceptably high price hikes, reported Associated Press. |
| China had already been suffering high inflation before the heavy rains. | China had already been suffering high inflation before the heavy rains. |