"china-floods"

Chinese policymakers repeatedly warned that the government needs to step up disaster preparations as severe weather becomes more common

Estimated direct economic loss is $502 mn in Jiaoling county, while in Meixian district, loss is $146 million

As of 9:00 a.m. local time (1:00 GMT) 530 mm of rainfall were recorded in Liulin, with floodwaters rising to up to 5 meters (16 feet).

Rainwater has damaged more than 215,200 hectares of crops, causing a direct economic loss of about 1.22 billion yuan (about USD 188.6 million), state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 14 workers were trapped in the construction site of the Shijingshan tunnel, part of the Zhuhai city's Xingye expressway, when the site was flooded on July 15.

The airport in Zhengzhou cancelled 260 flights into and out of the city, and local railway authorities also halted or delayed some trains.