The death toll from flooding in central-south China's Hunan Province rose to 87 by 8:30 p.m. Monday, as three more deaths were reported after another heavy rainstorm, local government announced.

In Anhua County, where the three deaths were reported, 37 people are missing, said Xie Kangsheng, deputy secretary of the Hunan provincial committee of the Communist Party of China at a meeting on disaster relief on Monday.

Downpours hit the province from 8:00 p.m. Sunday to 8:00 a.m. Monday, especially the regions of Yiyang, Yongzhou, Xiangxi, Loudi and Changde.

In the county of Xinshao, the worse-hit area in the flooding, 52 people were confirmed dead and 25 others were reported missing, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

Xie urged the local governments to pay special attention to flood control in the areas around water reservoirs and ensure the safety of people and their property.

In addition, the governments should be fully prepared for possible new flooding or mountain torrents, which might happen at any time as more rainstorms are expected in this flood season, said Xie.

Source: Xinhua