GUANGZHOU: Torrential rains, which have already caused death and damage in Guangdong, are expected to contine to lash the southern province in the coming days.

Four people have died and 212,630 seriously affected by the rains that have swept this southern province in the past few days, the Guangdong provincial government reported.

"Six cities, Heyuan, Meizhou, Huizhou, Shaoguan, Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, 15 counties and 75 towns were hit by the rains," the report said.

"As many as 1, 801 houses collapsed, 13,297 hectares of agricultural crops were damaged, three industrial enterprises were forced to cease production and 38 roads were closed.

"Eight hydro-power stations were also damaged, including a 66.6-km-long electricity transmission line," the report said.

The Guangdong hydrology bureau earlier reported that from 8 am on Monday to mid-day on Tuesday most parts of Guangdong were hit by the rainstorms with precipitation of more than 50 millimeters recorded in 47 cities and towns.

"Precipitation exceeded 100 millimeters per day in Lianshan, Longchuan, Dapu, Heping, Longmen, Deqing and Heyuan," the bureau said.

"The heavy rains were accompanied by lightening and strong winds that resulted in rainstorm signals of up to level 8 and 9 being raised in 16 cities of the province."

According to an official estimate, economic loss was put at 242.8 million yuan ($32 million) and direct economic loss to Heyuan, the most seriously hit city, was 148.7 million yuan ($19 million).

Guangdong provincial government and its party standing committee were quick to enforce flood relief measures. A special working team of senior officials from Guangdong's irrigation, civil administration, and agriculture departments was sent to the various cities to supervise relief work.

Source: China Daily