Heavy rain hits central China, at least 2 dead

Preliminary figures showed 800,000 people in the cities of Changde, Zhangjiajie and Shaoyang, along with Xiangxi Prefecture, were impacted by the storm. Some counties in those areas told residents to evacuate before the rains hit. The two people who were killed returned to their homes to collect belongings when the roofs collapsed on them. That wasn't the only damage. Headquarters said around 1,400 homes collapsed. Suining County in Shaoyang, which received 228.3 mm of rainfall during the past two days, was the worst hit. Two people were swept away by floods and are missing. A total of 67,000 people in Suining are staying with relatives and friends until waters recede, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.