Toll in China tropical storm rises to 154

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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1104AP_China_Tropical_Storm.html


Residents wade through flood waters caused by tropical storm Bilis in Shaoguan, in China's southern Guangdong province, Sunday, July 16, 2006. The death toll in southern China from tropical storm Bilis has jumped by 39 to 154 after torrential rains swept away houses and triggered devastating mudslides. (AP Photo/Color China Photo)


BEIJING -- The death toll in southern China from tropical storm Bilis has jumped by 39 to 154 after torrential rains swept away houses and triggered devastating mudslides, a government newspaper said Monday.

Hardest-hit was the inland province of Hunan, where at least 78 people were killed after Bilis roared ashore on Friday, the China Daily said on its Web site. It cited the official Xinhua News Agency and local news reports.

Elsewhere, 43 people were killed in coastal Fujian province and 33 in neighboring Guangdong, the report said.