In Sichuan, heavy rains bring deadly floods

More than 440,000 people in Sichuan province have been affected by floods triggered by heavy rain since Friday evening, the Sichuan Water Resources Department said on Monday.

The downpours have lashed six cities and 13 counties and raised the water level of 10 rivers above warning levels. More than 80,000 people have been evacuated, the department said.

From 3 am on Saturday to 5 pm on Sunday, rainstorms whipped Yingshan, Langzhong, Nanbu and Xichong in Nanchong. Mingde township of Yingshan received record precipitation of 55.76 centimeters.

From 2 am to 6 pm on Sunday, Dazhu, a county under the administration of the city of Dazhou, witnessed the strongest rainfall, with 31 townships and streets in the county affected.

Dazhu residents have spread information online that a 52-year-old woman and two children, aged 3 and 9, in Pianyan village, Qingshui town, were washed away by floods at about 6 am on Sunday. Their family is asking for any information leading to their whereabouts, the residents said.