Five dead in China rainstorms—state media

BEIJING — Five people have died and dozens of others were injured in rainstorms that hit southwest China this week, state media said on Wednesday.

Strong gales and torrential downpours in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality have injured 39 people since Sunday, China’s official Xinhua news agency said, citing local authorities.

The storms have toppled 22 houses, Xinhua said. Parts of Southern China are prone to rainstorms during spring and summer.

Nearly 80 people were killed last summer when floods caused by heavy rain hit China’s capital Beijing, authorities said.