China cities declare rain 'red alerts' as flood death toll hits 21

More than 2,700 houses and shops suffered flood damage and power, transportation and communications were also disrupted in the central Chinese province of Hubei.

Five cities in the central Chinese province of Hubei have declared "red alerts" after torrential rain left 21 people dead and forced the evacuation of nearly 6,000 people, state media reported. The deaths were recorded in the township of Liulin, part of the city of Suizhou in the north of the province. More than 2,700 houses and shops suffered flood damage and power, transportation and communications were also disrupted, the official Xinhua news agency reported.