Hundreds dead or missing after floods, landslides

BEIJING — More than 170 people died and more than 100 were missing after heavy rains touched off floods and landslides in China this past week, officials said Saturday. Meanwhile, meteorologists warned that more thunderstorms are expected.

In northern China, where most of the deaths occurred, were concentrated, the worst-hit area was Hebei province, which encircles the capital, Beijing. At least 114 people died there, the provincial branch of the Ministry of Civil Affairs told the official New China News Agency on Saturday. An additional 111 people were still missing in Hebei as of Saturday

Authorities put the number of affected people at more than 8 million, with nearly 300,000 evacuated.

In Xingtai, about 200 miles southwest of Beijing, at least 25 people were dead and 13 missing after the Qili River overflowed Wednesday.