At least three people have died and 11 are missing after a bus fell into a river in flood-hit Hebei province, northern China. The incident occurred near Shijiazhuang, about 265km south-west of Beijing, as heavy rains continue to batter the region.
Authorities in Hebei reported that 37 of the 51 people on board were rescued. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed the fatalities and missing persons. Video footage showed the bus almost submerged in a fast-flowing river, with people perched on top.
In neighbouring Shanxi province, flooding has forced over 120,000 people to evacuate, destroyed 17,000 homes, and damaged 190,000 hectares of farmland. Approximately 1.75 million people have been affected. Rainfall in Shanxi reached nearly four times the usual monthly average, with 59 meteorological stations recording their highest ever daily rainfall.
The floods have also caused the suspension of more than 400 mines, including 60 coal-producing ones, exacerbating China's electricity shortages. The Fen River reached its highest level in four years, and sections of the ancient wall around the Unesco-listed city of Pingyao were eroded.
In Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi, rainfall of 185mm was recorded—about seven times the pre-2010 October average. More rain and colder weather are expected. Hao Nan, head of a disaster information service centre, noted that while the scope of flooding is worse than in Henan earlier this year, the impact has been less severe, though cold weather remains a concern.
In July, over 300 people died in Henan province due to record-breaking rainstorms, with most deaths occurring in Zhengzhou after 600mm of rain fell in three days.
