Two days of torrential rains in southwest China's Guizhou Province have caused flash floods and destroyed cottages along the Duliujiang River which flows across the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, affecting the lives of more than 270,000 people.

 

The Guizhou Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Monday that the rain hit the province at 8:00 AM on Sunday and covered eight counties in the province's southern and southeastern regions, with the maximum daily precipitation of 251 mm in some areas.

 

The rainstorm blocked the traffic in some counties and pushed many sections of the upper reaches of the Duliujiang River to the danger level, affecting over 270,000 people, said the headquarters.

 

The rain had caused flooding in 19 townships in Sandu County, destroyed 124 houses, leading to the evacuation of about 1,000 primary school students and villagers by 15:00 pm on Monday.

 

More than 3,400 people in Rongjiang County had been moved away from the potentially flood-affected area by Monday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2006)