Worse to come in killer floods

Greenpeace photos show firemen being rescued from China's worst oil spill after a pipe line exploded in the northern port of Dalian, pouring oil into the Yellow Sea. Photo / AP

More than 1000 people have died or been lost in severe flooding in China so far this year, and the heaviest rains are still to come, a senior official warned.

Flooding this year has inflicted the worst toll on China for a decade, killing 701 people, leaving 347 still missing and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Three-quarters of China's provinces have been hit by flooding and 25 rivers have seen record high-water levels the general secretary of the Government's flood prevention agency, Liu Ning, told a news conference.

Aside from the human toll, 645,000 houses have been toppled and overall damage now totalled 142.2 billion yuan ($29.25 billion).

With the flood season far from over, this year is shaping up to be one of the most devastating since 1998, which was the worst in 50 years.

"Since 60 to 80 per cent of the annual rain level occurs in June, July and August, we should be prepared to prevent and combat potential disasters," Liu said.

Tropical storm Chanthu is expected to hit China's southern island of Hainan and Guangdong province this weekend.

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