One dead, 34 missing in rain, as Hebei on red rainstorm alert

SHIJIAZHUANG, July 20 (Xinhua) -- There has been at least one confirmed fatality and 34 people remain missing, after heavy rain hit north China's Hebei Province Tuesday.

Hebei Provincial Meteorological Bureau on Wednesday morning issued a red alert for rainstorms, forecasting heavy rain to continue throughout the coming hours.

Red is the most serious level of China's four-tier color-coded system for severe weather.

The provincial water resources department said rain caused disasters in 19 counties. Handan, Xingtai and Shijiazhuang cities all saw up to 630 millimeters of rainfall.

Rain has caused all major rivers in the province to breach their banks, damaging 11 dams, two hydropower stations, 112 telecom base stations, and inundating 4,000 hectares of farmland.

The civil affairs department relocated 67,158 people over safety concerns, as the provincial land resources bureau warned of flooding, landslides and mountain torrents.

In the provincial capital, Shijiazhuang, 13 road underpasses were also waterlogged.