China storm death toll expected to rise

Officials in China say they expect the death toll from tropical storm Bilis to to rise.

The death toll currently stands at 530.

Relief operations are continuing in the mountainous areas of central Hunan province where flash floods and landslides buried villages and roads after Bilis dumped torrents of rain on the region over the last week.

The Zixing region of Hunan province was worst hit, with more than 600 millimetres of rain dumped on up to 10 villages.

A Zixing city spokesman has told the AFP news agency many trees were washed away, including some that were several hundred years old.

Before making landfall in China a week ago, tropical storm Bilis claimed lives in the Philippines and Taiwan.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA