Rainstorms batter South West China; one killed, over 4,10,000 affected

Torrential downpours swept through southwest China's Guizhou Province, killing one person and affecting more than 4,10,000 people.

A total of 352 houses collapsed and more than 1,500 were damaged in the rainstorms sweeping through the province since Tuesday.

The rains have so far caused an estimated economic loss of 163 million yuan (USD 26.3 million) to the province.

According to the provincial civil affairs department, the rainstorms have killed one person and left another missing while more than 4,10,000 people have been affected.

The rains also destroyed part of a railway line linking southwest China's Chongqing Municipality with Guiyang, the capital city of Guizhou, delaying nearly 20 passenger trains today.

Railway patrols found a 30-meter-long embankment cave-in at around 4:20 am between two stations in Guizhou. More than 250 rescuers are busy repairing the line, according to railway authorities.

The provincial meteorological centre forecast heavy downpours will continue for the next two days.

China's National Meteorological Centre yesterday issued an alert for rainstorms in the southern regions including Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou provinces as well as Shanghai City.