Publication Date July 21, 2016 | Xinhua

14 dead, 72 missing in north China's heavy downpour

China
Cars drive on a waterlogged road in Shijiazhuang, capital city of north China's Hebei Province, July 20, 2016. A heavy rain hit the middle and southern areas of Hebei Province in last three days. Precipitation in many cities including Handan, Xingtai and Shijiazhuang reached 630 mm. Photo: Zhu Xudong, Xinhua
Cars drive on a waterlogged road in Shijiazhuang, capital city of north China's Hebei Province, July 20, 2016. A heavy rain hit the middle and southern areas of Hebei Province in last three days. Precipitation in many cities including Handan, Xingtai and Shijiazhuang reached 630 mm. Photo: Zhu Xudong, Xinhua

Torrential rain in north China's Hebei Province since Wednesday morning has left 14 dead and 72 others missing, according to the provincial civil affairs bureau on Thursday.

More than 1.99 million people in 11 cities in Hebei reported rain-triggered disasters. About 123,000 people were evacuated over safety concerns.

The bureau has received reports that floods and landslides have destroyed more than 7,100 houses. The rain also damaged crops on 1.48 million hectares of farmland and disrupted traffic, power and communications