China flood claims 57 lives

Floods and landslides in China caused by a week of heavy rain have killed at least 57 people and forced more than a million from their homes.



Officials said 12.3 million people were affected in Sichuan, Henan and Shaanxi provinces in the south-west, centre and north of China.



Chinese media said the flooding in Sichuan was expected to be the worst since records began to be kept in 1847.



They said the floods have damaged crops and delayed harvests.



More than 120,000 houses have collapsed and economic losses are estimated at $2.7 billion.