China Rainstorm Death Toll Jumps To 143 With 50 Missing

BEIJING, Sept 8 (AFP) - The death toll from floods and landslides unleashed by ferocious storms lashing southwest China jumped to 143 Wednesday with at least 50 more missing, state media reported.
At least 89 people were confirmed dead in Sichuan province where 41 remained unaccounted for, the provincial disaster relief office said.
In neighbouring Chongqing, the death toll rose to 54 with 16 missing and more than 550 injured, the Xinhua news agency said.
Most of the deaths were caused by landslides, mud and rock flows and flash floods sweeping through mountain valleys.
The area has been pummeled by storms since Thursday although the weather was improving Wednesday.