China storms leave 165 dead

PEKING (AFP) - The destructive force of 'Polly', the tropical storm which has hit northern China, caused a 6m (20ft) tide to flood the northern port of Tianjin as the death toll in the south-east rose to 165.

'The extraordinary tide flooded waterfront warehouses, docks and passenger terminals,' the Xinhua news agency reported. Shrimp ponds and farmland were submerged. There were no reports of casualties in the city, but along the south-east China coast 165 people were confirmed dead and more than 5 million homeless after the storm hit on Sunday and Monday.