Grief as death toll rises in rain-lashed China

Overnight thunderstorms brought new misery to the country's north-west as the death toll from severe flooding and landslides rose to 1,117.

Fresh rains triggered new mudslides, leaving five more missing, and another swollen river threatened to overflow.

The National Weather Centre forecast more heavy rains in the coming days – up to 3.5in was expected in the already saturated region yesterday – and said the threat of additional landslides along the Bailong River was "relatively large".

Tents set up as emergency shelters for victims have flooded and traumatised victims said the storms were a frightening reminder of the deluge that brought on Sunday's disaster in which three villages in Gansu's Zhouqu district were swallowed in waves of mud.

Around 630 people are believed to be missing, with hopes for their rescue fading fast. Flooding in China has killed more than 2,000 people this year and caused tens of billions of pounds in damage.