9 killed in south China floods

Floods triggered by continuous downpours since Friday have left at least nine people dead in south China's Guangdong province, local authorities said Sunday.

In Puning city, eight people were killed, according to the municipal government's publicity department.

More than 100,000 people were evacuated and about 500,000 were affected in the floods, according to the department.

The average precipitation between 8 p.m. on Friday to 8 a.m. on Sunday reached 324 mm in Puning, which triggered flash floods and rising water levels of rivers and reserviors.

The economic loss in Puning was estimated to be about 600 million yuan (97.3 million US dollars).

In Zijin County, a local resident was left dead and one another remained missing. Water and power supply as well as communication were cut off in the townships of Longwo, Suqu and Shuidun.

A total of 61 reservoirs have reported water levels surpassing the danger lines by Sunday evening, according to the Guangdong provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

Some 1.55 million people in 454 townships of 11 cities were affected in the floods. About 200,000 people had been evacuated by Sunday evening, according to the headquarters.

More than 2,800 soldiers are participating in the relief efforts.