China flood toll still on the rise

The death toll from a massive rain-triggered mudslide in Zhouqu, northwest of China's Gansu province, has risen to 702, with 1042 others still missing.

More than a thousand people have been rescued, Tian Baozhong, head of the provincial Civil Affairs Department, said on Tuesday.

Torrential rain on Saturday night prompted an avalanche of sludge and debris to crash down on the county seat of Zhouqu, ripping many houses off their foundations and tearing multi-story apartment buildings in half.

Residents continue to be evacuated, but the mountainous terrain has hampered disaster relief operations.

"We have adequate tents, but insufficient space to pitch them," said Zhang Hongdong, a worker with the county's Red Cross Society.

Most people affected by the disaster have sought shelter with their relatives and friends in nearby regions. - BuaNews