Heavy rainstorms kill at least 31 in China

At least 31 people died and nine more were missing after heavy rainstorms hit southwest China, state media reported Tuesday. Xinhua News Agency said 17 people were killed and three others were missing after the torrential rains in Sichuan province in the last several days. The 17 victims were from Yibin city, with most dying in landslides, it said. Rainstorms also triggered floods and landslides that ravaged Zhaotong city in the south of neighboring Yunnan province, killing 14 people and leaving six others missing. Xinhua said 533 homes were destroyed in the city.