Heavy rain in China kills at least 24, millions evacuated

[SHANGHAI] Heavy rain in China has killed at least 24 people and forced 16 million from their homes, state media reported on Saturday.

The government of Henan province in central China told the Xinhua news agency that 15 people were killed and eight were missing after thunderstorms and strong winds forced 7.2 million people from their homes and damaged 18,000 houses.

Nine people have been killed and 11 are missing in neighbouring Hebei province, authorities in its Xingtai city said on social media late on Friday.

Nearly 9 million people have been evacuated in Hebei, they said.

Large parts of China have been inundated with rain this summer, killing more than 200 people.

More than 1.5 million hectares of crops have been damaged, leading to direct economic losses of more than 20 billion yuan (S$4.1 billion), the government has said.

The central bank on Friday issued a statement saying it would provide financial support for flooded areas.

REUTERS