(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-27 14:45

LANZHOU - At least five people were killed in flash floods inflicted by concentrated torrential rains in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Northwest China's Gansu Province over the weekend.

Sources from Gansu Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said Hezheng County, about three hours' bus ride from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, were poured with a rainfall of 102 mm from 8 pm to 12 pm Saturday.

The worst hit was the seat of Hezheng County, and three other townships of Sanhe, Lianjiasi and Chenjiaji, where more than 40 households were made homeless after their houses collapsed amid the downpour, said the sources.

Eyewitnesses said that many crops were lodged after the torrential rains fell, and sludge was visible in many places on streets of Hezheng County seat.

Residents who have been made homeless by the torrential rains have been accommodated properly, but the exact statistics regarding the damage caused by the torrential rains are under further investigation, said sources from Gansu Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.