Heavy rainstorms struck Ya'an City, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Thursday and Friday, causing floods and landslides which claimed at least two lives, the province's disaster relief office said Friday.

The office said another person was seriously injured and five people are still missing.

The casualty was reported in Xieluo Township, inhabited by Tibetans, in Shimian County, the office said, adding that the road linking the township to the county seat has been cut, thus hampering disaster-relief efforts.

A heavy rainstorm earlier this week left 15 people dead and another eight missing in the same city.

The province has so far allocated 1.1 million yuan (about US$132.530) in special funds to the disaster areas, according to the office.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2003)