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Nearly 200 dead in China flooding, government says

By the CNN Wire Staff
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China braces for more rain
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Dike break forces 35,000 to flee
  • Heavy rains and flooding affect 10 provinces
  • More than 120 people missing
  • Damage estimated at $6.17 billion

(CNN) -- Nearly 200 people have died and more than 120 are missing from heavy rains and floods ravaging 10 southern China provinces, the government news agency said Tuesday.

About 2.3 million residents have been evacuated and 195,000 houses have collapsed, while 568,000 others have been damaged, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

In addition, 3.95 million acres (1.6 million hectares) have been flooded, destroying 12.5 percent of the area's crops, Xinhua said.

Damage is estimated at $6.17 billion (42.1 billion yuan).

Video: Thousands flee after levee breach
Video: Rain hits southeastern China
RELATED TOPICS
  • China
  • Floods

The problem worsened Tuesday after a dike burst in the Fu River in Jiangxi province, forcing about 35,000 people to flee, Xinhua said. More than 1,200 people were rescued.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs sent 5,000 tents and 20,000 quilts to Fujian province, 3,000 tents to Guangdong province and 10,000 tents to Jiangxi province on Tuesday, Xinhua said.

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The ministry already had dispatched 3,500 tents to the disaster areas, the news agency reported.