Record-breaking rains hit China's Jilin, leave 8 dead and 1 missing

Severe weather affecting China's Jilin Province on July 13 and 14, 2017, left at least 8 people dead and 1 missing, authorities reported. Strong thunderstorms brought record-breaking rain, powerful winds and hail.

Yongji County was worst hit, with 250 - 296 mm (9.8 - 11.6 inches) of rain on July 13, the amount exceeding historical records for this region. At least 5 people were killed in the county, according to Xinhua news agency.

As of 09:00 local time on July 14, there were 50 000 people affected in the provinces Jilin (34 000) and Heilongjiang (16 000). The storms affected 23 000 hectares (56 800 acres) of crops and made the direct economic loss of more than 29 million yuan.

According to the Xinhua's report released July 15, the death toll rose to 8 and there was still one person missing. C

ontinuous rainfalls damaged the infrastructure, including roads, bridges and houses, affecting nearly 320 000 people in 13 counties of the Jilin Province.

Featured image: Record-breaking rains hit Jilin Province, causing floods on July 13, 2017. Credit: Asia World News