China landslides leave at least 14 dead or missing

Heavy rains and landslides in China have left at least 14 people dead or missing over the past day, burying houses and causing scenic areas to temporarily shut. Photos from the scene showed rescue workers clad in bright orange uniforms combing through mud and rubble in the mountainous regions of Tongren city in in southwestern Guizhou province, where infrastructure had been reduced to a heap. At least 120 people have died or gone missing this year in China from flood-related disasters as of July 3, reported the state-run People's Daily, adding that the direct economic losses amount to some 41.6 billion yuan ($5.9 billion).