8 killed, 19 missing in China rainstorms

Eight persons were killed and 18 others missing after heavy rains lashed southwest China's Sichuan Province beginning this week, authorities said on Tuesday.

The rain and floods have affected 5,64,000 people in six cities, and 12,500 people have been relocated, according to figures released by the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters. Six deaths and all of the missing were reported in Xuyong County, Luzhou City.

Mudslides yesterday morning destroyed homes and cut off power, telecommunications and roads, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The storm has inflicted direct economic losses of 210 million yuan (US $32.8 million), damaging 20,470 hectares of farmland. Police officers, armed police and firemen are searching for the missing.