Rainstorms cause casualties, economic losses in China

Persistent heavy rains have wreaked havoc across China, causing casualties and economic losses.

As of 8 p.m. on Friday, four people had been killed and two remained missing in seven cities and prefectures in central China's Hunan Province, according to the local flood prevention and drought control headquarters.

More than 1.45 million people were affected, and about 116,400 were forced to relocate.

In the famous tourist town of Fenghuang, landslides cut electricity and blocked transportation. Some villages are now islands.

In south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, one person was drowned in flooding and nearly 60,000 local residents were affected as of 4 p.m. Friday.

More than 5,000 hectares of crops and 287 houses have been damaged. Estimated economic losses reached 78 million yuan (about 13 million U.S. dollars).

Storms hit the eastern province of Jiangxi and southeastern province of Fujian. The railway authorities in Nanchang City, capital of Jiangxi, suspended six passenger trains and changed routes for another six ones.

A family of four were killed when a school building collapsed in a mudflow in Dangkou Village, Yihuang County.

The provincial civil affairs department of Fujian reported the downpours have affected 43,000 residents, destroyed 300 houses and led to direct economic losses of 90 million yuan as of 9 a.m. Friday.

The heavy rain will continue for several days.