2 dead, 5 missing in E China floods, landslides

HEFEI - Two people have died and five remain missing after heavy rain caused floods and landslides in Anhui province, east China, over the weekend.

Six people were swept away by flood waters in Jinzhai county, according to a statement from the county's flood control and drought relief headquarters. Rescuers found one body on Sunday afternoon.

On Monday morning, another body was found in a house that had been buried by a rain-triggered landslide.

The weather has affected nearly 120,000 people and 2,500 have been evacuated. Direct economic losses are estimated to be around 135 million yuan (about 22.1 million US dollars).

Torrential rain has also pounded Nanjiang county, Southwest China's Sichuan province, cutting water supply for 145,000 people in the county seat, said a spokesperson with the county government.

The floods, said to be the worst the county has experienced since 1949, inundated the county seat, damaged houses and swept away vehicles, forcing the relocation of 238,000 people across 48 townships.

In addition, power and communications were disrupted in some townships and some roads collapsed.

Nearly 80,000 rescuers have been despatched to assist. It is estimated that the floods have caused direct economic losses of 530 million yuan.

In Shangcheng County in Henan province, Central China, nearly 800 residents were evacuated due to flash floods and landslides.

On Sunday, the National Meteorological Center predicted heavy rain in Anhui, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces and in the city of Shanghai on Monday.