Death toll in China storms rises to 40

Beijing: The death toll from hail and rain storms in a mountainous area in northwest China has risen to 40.

The official Xinhua News Agency says that another 18 people are missing and that power supplies and telecommunications networks have been disrupted in Minxian county in Gansu province.

Xinhua said late on Saturday that nearly 30,000 people were evacuated following the storm, which battered the county on Thursday.

Relief teams have taken blankets and clothing into the area.