The continuous rains have affected more than 1.3 million people and cut off 224 roads since Monday in east China's Zhejiang province, local authorities said on Friday.

As of 11 a.m. on Thursday, the week's downpour has affected more than 1,339,000 people, shut off 224 roads and torn down 1,145 houses in 184 townships and villages of Zhejiang, said a spokesman with the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The direct economic loss has been estimated at 1.12 billion yuan (about 162.3 U.S. dollars), the spokesman said.

The provincial average rainfall from 2 p.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Thursday measured 49.6 millimeters and the rainfall exceeded 200 millimeters at 32 observation stations, the spokesman said.

More heavy rain in the next ten days has been predicted by the headquarters as the province is still in the rainy season.

Since June 7, there has been continuous heavy rain in 12 provinces and regions in southern China, with some areas getting the most rain in 100 years.

More heavy rain had been reported by the Central Meteorological Station in 11 provinces and regions (Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Inner Mongolia, Hebei and Beijing) as of 10 a.m. on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2008)