Death toll from SW China storm rises to 9

CHENGDU - The death toll from rain in southwest China's Sichuan province from Saturday to Monday has risen to nine and eight people remain missing.

A statement from the emergency headquarters in Panzhihua City said 29 people were injured in landslides, cave-ins and flash floods, four seriously.

The rain has affected life in five townships administered by the city, damaging more than 900 hectares of farmland and destroying over 100 houses, inflicting direct economic losses of about 70 million yuan (10.5 million US dollars).

More than 13,000 people have been involved in the relief work. Nearly 33 million yuan has been allocated in disaster relief, along with tents, quilts and cotton-padded jackets.

Traffic, electricity supplies and telecommunications have yet to return to normal.