Rains force 72,000 from China quake area

[weatherbud]

Flooding in China's southern provinces have killed 176 since June 6.

SANSHUI, China - China has evacuated more than 70,000 people near the epicenter of last month's devastating earthquake to avoid further casualties from landslides and other disasters during the country's deadly annual flood season. Rain and floods, concentrated in China's heavily industrialized south, have killed at least 176 people and left 52 missing, as authorities struggle to shelter millions made homeless by the 7.9 magnitude quake that struck southwest Sichuan province on May 12.

Authorities in Aba prefecture had moved 72,000 people living in "highly dangerous terrain" in Wenchuan county, the epicenter of the quake, to safer areas ahead of downpours on Wednesday night, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

SOURCE