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China issues alert as more rainstorms forecast in south

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-16 20:42

BEIJING - China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast Wednesday heavy rains will continue to fall in China's already flooded southern provinces on Thursday.

Most regions in south China, including the provinces of Guizhou, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Fujian and Hunan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, will continue to experience rainstorms on Thursday, the NMC said.

Related readings:  New rainstorm hits Jiangxi  1.17 milion affected by heavy rain in S China  Floods cause 24b yuan losses in China this year  Death toll climbs to 51 in south China floods  24 missing after landslides engulf vehicles

The meteorological authorities also warned local governments to prepare for possible floods and geological disasters.

The torrential downpours over the past few days triggered floods which have left at least 35 people dead and 49 missing in hardest-hit Fujian, Sichuan and Guangxi, where 109,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes.

In Guangxi's Cangwu County, rainstorm-triggered landslides crushed houses Tuesday, leaving five people dead and 10 missing.

In Fujian, landslides and flash floods engulfed two vehicles in Nanping City, leaving at least six people dead and 18 people missing.

A preliminary investigation showed Tuesday's mountain collapse in Sichuan province, which killed 23 people and injured seven others, was caused by rainstorms.

The floods have damaged more than 7,000 houses and caused economic losses of 830 million yuan ($121.5) in the three regions.

More than 1 million people in southern China have been affected by the continuous rainstorms.

To help local governments fight the floods, China's Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and Ministry of Water Resources have dispatched work teams to the flooded regions.