Rainstorms have pounded parts of Hubei Province over the past few days, affecting more than 210,000 people, local authorities said Friday.

The downpours have inundated more than 35,000 hectares of cropland and led to the collapse of 191 houses, a spokesman with the Hubei Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said.

Altogether 1,349 residents have been evacuated from low-lying areas, the spokesman said.

Torrential rains have also forced 13 plants to halt production and disrupted traffic on 45 highways, he said.

Direct economic losses from the rainstorms amounted to 125 million yuan (19.5 million U.S. dollars), he said.

Local authorities of water resources, civil affairs and transportation as well as military personnel have launched a disaster relief operation.

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