More than 50 dead in China floods

In Fujian province 41 people were killed in floods on Thursday, according to the official news agency Xinhua.

Mudslides also killed a further 12 people in Wuzhou, in Guangxi region. At least 24 people were injured.

The government has estimated that this summer's floods are the worst in three decades in some parts of China.

Heavy rains have already forced more than 400,000 people from their homes.

Floods have also destroyed 9,300 houses and ruined crops on some 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of farmland, Xinhua said.

Weather forecasters predict there is little relief in sight, with more heavy rainfall expected over the weekend.

Heavy rains

Early on Thursday morning, 11 villages were flooded with water up to two metres deep when the Bashili River in Fujian burst its banks.

Rescue workers were at the site and 16,000 people had been evacuated, Xinhua news agency said.

It was not known whether any of the residents, who would have been asleep at the time, were killed in the flooding.

Heavy seasonal rains have been falling in Fujian in recent days.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Chinese foreign ministry
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites