China Floods More than one million evacuated Death toll rises to 168

China Floods

More than one million evacuated

Death toll rises to 168

Add capA young boy watches the flood waters from the roof of his home in Laibin,  

One Million people in China have been evacuated following downpours that have raised water levels in rivers to critical highs, and triggered floods and landslides, the government has said.

          The summer rains have left at least 168 people dead or missing so far, and weather authorities warned yesterday that flood-hit areas across the southern half of China would experience a fresh round of heavy rainfall.

          "These areas must strengthen their prevention of geological disasters," the National Meteorological Centre said.

          Some of the areas being pounded by rain --such as Hubei and Hunan provinces--were only recently in the thralls of a severe drought, which has in some cases made the situation worse.

          One devastating mudslide in the northwestern province of Gansu killed 1,500 people in August.