DUSHANBE , July 18, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan ’s President Emomali Rahmonov has sent a telegram of condolences to China ’s President Hu Jintao over devastating tropical storm Bilis, which killed at least 188 people in southern China , presidential press service reported.

Rahmonov also asked to convey his condolences to relatives and friends of those who died in southern China from tropical storm Bilis.  

According to China ’s national news agency Xinhua, at least 188 people are now known to have died in southern China from tropical storm Bilis.  More than 100 people are still missing, and thousands more have seen their homes and crops destroyed by floods and landslides.  Rescue teams have been wading through flooded streets to reach thousands of people stranded by the high water.  More heavy rains have been forecast in the area in the coming days.

Hardest-hit was the inland province of Hunan , where at least 92 people were killed after Bilis hit on Friday, the official Xinhua news agency reported.  Thousands of homes have been swept away, and large areas of farmland have been destroyed.