170 Dead or Missing in China Floods

Torrential rains in China have caused floods that have displaced more than 5 million people, and 170 were reported dead or missing Sunday. Parts of the country are submerged in water and more than 1 million acres of farmland has been wiped out, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Roughly 5.7 million people and nearly 1,000 businesses have been affected by the floods, the damage of which will cost the country an estimated 6 billion yuan (roughly $950 million). Farmers said they have not seen such flooding in 20 years, particularly in the eastern provinces of Anhui and Jiangxi. Prices for green vegetables have shot up by 40 percent, and the National Statistics Bureau reported general food prices have increased 11.7 percent.