Deaths in central China floods rise to 51, losses mount to $10 billion

The torrential rains, the heaviest in 1,000 years, have affected about three million people in Henan province, the provincial emergency management department said.

The death toll from the rain-triggered unprecedented floods in central China has risen to 51 with the official estimate of losses totalling about $10 billion, the state media reported on Friday. The torrential rains, the heaviest in 1,000 years, have affected about three million people in Henan province and a total of 3,76,000 local residents have been relocated to safe places, the provincial emergency management department said. The death toll caused by downpours and floods has increased to 51 in the Henan provincial capital of Zhengzhou, the state-run China Daily quoted local authorities as saying.