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China Flood Toll Nears 700

Millions homeless in devastating deluge

Posted Jul 30, 2007 2:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – Massive flooding, landslides, and mudflows caused by weeks of violent rainstorms have killed 652 people in China and forced 5M out of their homes. Across the country, 452,000 houses have been destroyed, and officials are forecasting continued severe rain for China's southwest, northeast, and northwest regions in the coming days.

“There’s an urgent need for rice, clean drinking water, shelter, clothing, medical services and disinfectant,” said a Red Cross delegate. "It’s the rural poor who are suffering the most, including many farmers." Flooding has been the worst in ten years and has caused over $6B in damage to the economy since the start of the year.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (2)]

A Chinese man carrying his child in his arm, leans on a railing as he stands in flood waters on the bank of a river in Wuhan, in Chinas central Hubei Province, Thursday, July 26, 2007. Flooding in China's... (Associated Press)

Chinese push their bicycles through the flood waters in Kunming, China's Yunnan province, Sunday, July 22, 2007. The death toll from a week of rain-triggered floods, landslides and mud flows in China... (Associated Press)

A Chinese rescue worker gives a piggyback an elderly resident through flood waters in Chongqing, southwestern China, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Mudslides left 32 people dead, five missing and 128 injured... (Associated Press)

Vehicles are partially submerged by flood waters at a parking lot in Chongqing, southwestern China, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Mudslides left 32 people dead, five missing and 128 injured on the outskirts... (Associated Press)

In this photo released by China's Xinhua news agency, Chinese President Hu Jintao, center right, talks with residents as he inspects flood-affected area in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on... (Associated Press)

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China Flood Toll Nears 700