China warns of disease outbreaks in flood-hit areas as death toll rises

Local officials say crops and agricultural equipment across the country's north were affected after the area experienced more than a year's rainfall in a week

China has warned of crop and animal diseases breaking out as floodwaters retreated from rural areas in the north, while some cities struggled to restore drinking water supplies after the worst flooding in six decades which have left more than 30 dead.

Hebei province, which shares a border with the capital Beijing, was struck by more than a year's rainfall last week from storms that followed Typhoon Doksuri, affecting autumn crops and damaging agricultural equipment.