20 killed, over 331 injured in weather-related incidents across China

Beijing, Jul 7 (PTI) At least 20 people were killed and 331 others injured in extreme weather-related incidents across China in the last 24 hours, authorities said on Tuesday. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to organise flood emergency rescue, disaster relief and treatment of the injured, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. On Tuesday, five people died in a landslide at a township in northwest China's Gansu Province, officials said. A total of 33 people were buried beneath the debris. Rescuers said 21 people had been pulled out, but five of them died despite receiving treatment, Xinhua reported. All-out search and rescue operations are underway for the other 12 missing people. Meanwhile, on Monday night, tornadoes, thunderstorms and high-velocity gales hit the eastern part of Hubei Province, killing 11 people with one reported missing, according to provincial emergency management authorities. The severe weather also injured at least 331 people across three communities. Over 400 residents have been evacuated to safe places. The severe weather destroyed 22 buildings and damaged another 4,855, Xinhua reported. In a separate incident, four people were killed, and eight others are missing after record-breaking rainfall and the ensuing floods in parts of Nanning, the capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Over 93,300 people were affected by the disaster, and 54,460 were evacuated, due to the torrential rains caused by Typhoon Maysak, the report said. President Xi stressed the need to strengthen monitoring, early warning, and emergency preparedness and response, and urged solid efforts in disaster prevention and relief work to ensure the safety of people's lives and property. PTI KJV FHK AMS