Storm-triggered floods hit N China

Heavy storms have swept north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region since last Friday, triggering floods and disrupting traffic, local authorities said Monday.

Torrential rains hit Keyihe township in the Great Hinggan Mountains area of Inner Mongolia starting last Friday, affecting 2,683 people and damaging or destroying 738 houses as of Sunday evening, the local government said.

Floods disrupted traffic on the No. 301 Provincial Highway, inundated parts of the Yijia Railway and caused losses of power and telecommunications Sunday afternoon, the local government said.

Traffic and telecommunications in the area have since resumed, the government said.

The local meteorological department said rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms will continue over the next two days.

Torrential rains also swept across southwest China's Guizhou province over the weekend, killing six people and affecting 304,853 residents from four cities and prefectures as of Monday, the Guizhou provincial civil affairs department said.