Rainstorms and floods have killed 40 people and destroyed thousands of homes in southeast China, state media reported late Friday.

40 killed, 19,000 homes destroyed in south China floods

BEIJING, June 3 (AFP) Jun 03, 2006

Rainstorms and floods have killed 40 people and destroyed thousands of homes in southeast China, state media reported late Friday.

More than 50,000 people have been evacuated from central and northern Fujian province which has been lashed by non-stop rainstorms since Tuesday, according to the ministry of civil affairs, Xinhua news agency said.

About 19,000 homes have also been destroyed, according to the ministry, which despatched a rescue team to the flood-hit areas, Xinhua said.

Floods have always been part of life in China.

Since serious flooding of the Yangtze River in 1998, China has spent billions of dollars on flood mitigation.

Major rivers have been brought under greater control and early warning systems have been put in place, but flash floods and landslides caused by unprecedented rains continue to cause major damage.

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