Three days of torrential rains in central China's Hunan Province have caused flash floods and rivers to burst their banks, leaving two people dead, one missing, and affecting the lives of 1.41 million people.

The Hunan Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Thursday that the rains covered 198,000 square kilometers in the province, with the maximum daily precipitation of 183.8 mm in some areas.

The heavy rainfall raised many sections of Xiangjiang River, the largest in the province, to the danger level, causing flooding in 204 townships in nine counties, affecting 1.41 million people, said a source with the headquarters.

According to the provincial civil affairs department, the floods had destroyed 16,000 houses and caused about 44,000 people to be evacuated from their homes by Thursday.

The provincial observatory's weather forecast said heavy rainfalls would continue from Friday to Sunday.

Yang Taibo, vice governor of Hunan urged officials to make early preparations for public safety and to ensure reservoir security.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2006)