Fifteen dead in China snowstorms

CHINA: Heavy snow and rain in southwest China's Yunnan province has left at least 15 people dead and 10 missing, state media reported on Friday.

Blizzards and rainstorms have ravaged the Lisu Autonomous Prefecture since the weekend, with snowfall in mountain areas of up to one metre deep, Xinhua news agency said.

Communication and power lines have been cut and houses and farmland ruined.

The local government has rushed tons of food and other relief supplies to disaster-affected people, the agency said. -- AFP