Chinese flood kills 27 children

At least 27 children have been killed in north-eastern China, when a torrent of water engulfed their primary school.
The disaster happened at 1400 (0600 GMT) on Friday in Shalan, a town in Heilongjiang province, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Xinhua said 29 people were confirmed dead at Changan Primary School - two of them adults and the rest children.

But hospital officials told the French news agency AFP that the death toll could be higher than 40.

This is the latest in a series of disasters in China caused by heavy rains.

At least 250 people are known to have died in May, the usual start of the rainy season.

Local residents said heavy rains upstream from low-lying Shalan caused Friday's flood.