Heavy rain triggering flooding and landslide Sunday has left seven people dead and two missing in southwest China's Sichuan Province, said an official with the emergency office of the provincial government.

More than 118,000 people had been evacuated and 5,900 houses had collapsed since Friday, said Yang Jingping, deputy director of the emergency office.

Changning County in Yibin City was flooded in the deluge. Water, electricity supplies, communications and roads were cut off but resumed Sunday.

Helicopters are being used to rescue stranded victims of the flooding and to distribute food, Yang said.

The search for survivors is continuing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2009)