Floods in China

Rain-triggered floods Kill 12 people in China

At least 12 people have been killed and one has gone missing in flooding caused by torrential downpours which hit most areas of southwestern and northern China.

Press TV,

21 July, 2012

According to a statement released by the Beijing emergency medical center on Saturday, two people were killed and six others were injured after strong winds toppled rooftops in two villages in the city's suburban Tongzhou district.

The heavy rainstorm, which prompted the Beijing Meteorological Bureau to issue its second-highest flood alert since 2005, caused the cancellation of 223 flights in the capital city.

According to the Bureau, Beijing received 95 mm of precipitation on average. The heavy rainfall is expected to last until Sunday morning.

In the northern Shanxi province, four people were killed and one went missing after the pickup truck they were on board was carried by flood waters into a river as they were crossing a bridge

Rain-triggered landslides in the southwestern province of Sichuan also killed 6 people, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief officials.

Officials said that heavy rainstorms battered many parts of Sichuan from Friday night to Saturday morning, with seven counties reporting rainfall of more than 100 mm.

China whether reports say that “heavy rains will sweep china's northern regions and some southern areas over the next three days”.

Authorities have also issued evacuation orders in disaster prone areas.

5.8 magnitude earthquake strikes off the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island

Extinction Protocol,

 July 21, 2012 

A strong earthquake has struck off the east coast of New Zealand, but there were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-5.8 temblor struck Saturday off the east coast of the North Island at a depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles). New Zealand is prone to earthquakes. In February 2011, a strong quake in Christchurch killed 185 people and destroyed much of the city’s downtown area.

–HP