Death toll climbs to 78

Broken link: Residents crossing a damaged bridge in Zhuozhou, Hebei province. — Reuters

THE death toll from record-breaking rains across northern China rose to at least 78 yesterday, as authorities warned of more flooding and another storm approached the country.

Deaths from flooding in Hebei province rose to 29, state media reported, after Storm Doksuri, which hit mainland China as a typhoon two weeks ago, brought on the most severe rainfall since records began 140 years ago.