Thousands evacuated as China hit by deadly floods

Flash floods in southwest and northwest China left at least a dozen dead and put thousands of others in harm's way, state media reported Sunday.

In the southwestern province of Sichuan, at least six people have died and another 12 are missing after torrential rain triggered flash floods, and some 1,300 people had been evacuated as of Saturday.

Meanwhile, in the northwestern province of Gansu, another six deaths were reported and 3,000 people have been evacuated.

Rainfall in 1 1/2 days was as much as 98.9 millimeters in the worst affected areas, almost double the July average. The rains come amid a heat wave in parts of the country with temperatures soaring as high as 42 degrees Celsius last week.