"Once-in-a-century" rains displace millions in China

Environment News Service: Each summer, flooding rains sweep down China's river basins, forcing people from their homes, destroying businesses, and carrying crops away. This year has brought "once-in-a-century" rains and floods, Chinese President Hu Jintao said Sunday.

After a month of heavy rains, flood warnings are being issued in many parts of China as more heavy rain is forecast for the southwestern, central and eastern regions over the next few days.

The Central Meteorological Station forecast today that heavy rain would hit Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, Henan and Anhui provinces overnight and on Tuesday…

Since mid-June, more than 100 million Chinese have been affected by the rains and flooding. Officials say 425 people have died, while 110 are missing. An estimated 3.6 million people have been forced from their homes….

Director of the National Meteorological Center, Jiao Meiyan blames climate change for the torrential rains in Sichan and the city of Chongqing, which both experienced drought last summer.