Rainstorms kill 11 in east, southwest China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-01 23:19

NANCHANG: Eleven people were killed in east China's Jiangxi Province and Guizhou Province in the southwest as rainstorms swept parts of the country, said local authorities on Wednesday.

The heaviest rains this year have hit Jiangxi since Tuesday afternoon, triggering landslides in Huashan village in Shangrao City at about 3 a.m. Wednesday. A house was toppled, killing two residents.

According to the provincial flood prevention authority, the rain will last until Friday, with a maximum rainfall of about 260 millimeters. Local governments were ordered to beware of possible floods and landslides, and to evacuate residents to ensure their safety.

Separately, nine people were killed and another is missing in disasters resulting from torrential rains since Sunday in Guizhou Province.

The rain triggered flood, mud-rock flow and landslide in 31 counties, cities and districts in the mountainous province, affecting 1.53 million people -- among whom 106,500 were evacuated.

A total of 65,208 hectares of crops were ruined while 1,990 houses collapsed. The disasters resulted in a loss of 216.83 million yuan (US$32 million), said the provincial civil affairs department.

The provincial government has sent 500 tents to the worst-hit regions.

In central China's Hunan province, some 1.02 million people from 20 counties were affected by torrential rains, among whom 11,000 were evacuated.

Average rainfall since Sunday reached 37 millimeters across the province. The downpour damaged 43,550 hectares of crops, toppled down 1,153 houses and inflicted an economic loss of 226 million yuan (US$33 million).