Thirty-seven new deaths from floods were reported in China yesterday, as the toll from this year's unusually early onslaught of flood rains surpassed 600 - exceeding last year's total.
The official Xinhua news agency said rising waters in 25 cities and counties in south-eastern Zhejiang province had claimed 17 more lives. More than 75,000 people had been evacuated, as floodwaters damaged 11,319 houses and threatened even larger numbers, it said.
Estimated economic losses in the province totalled 2.1 billion yuan (£168 million), with some 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) of farmland under water. In neighbouring Jiangxi province, more than 20 people missing from Monday's landslide in Lichuan county are believed dead, said local officials. Earlier reports said the torrent of dirt and debris had buried 43 villagers alive in the hilly region. About 500 houses were destroyed in the landslides.
The worst floods in half-a-century in the south-western city of Guilin caused concerns, as it is one of the destinations on President Clinton's state visit to China.
The were no casualties, but roads in the city centre were under half-a-metre of water, and rising waters forced the closure of the airport highway, the China News Service reported.
Minister of Civil Affairs, Mr Doji Cering told reporters: "In the past several days, there has been torrential rain in the city and water has flooded the city, causing some damage."
The US House Speaker, Mr Newt Gingrich, yesterday promised a Congress vote on renewing China's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trade status, and declared IMF funding a top priority. He said he would act on fast-track trade legislation and funding for the IMF, reviving White House initiatives many thought were dead for the year.
Meanwhile the powerful House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee voted to back President Clinton's decision to renew China's trade status.