Rainstorms since Tuesday have swept the eastern province of Jiangxi from north to south, leaving two people dead and over 60,000 others evacuated, according to local flood control authorities on Friday.

By 3 p.m. Friday, average rainfall in the province was 97.4 millimeters, while the maximum topped 540.8 millimeters in Niedu town of Chongyi County. The province, for the first time in history, issued the highest level of rainstorm alarm on Friday.

Two residents were killed as the rain triggered landslide in Shangrao city.

In Dayu county, Ganzhou city, nine people were trapped by floods Friday and rescue work is underway.


Flood submerges houses at the Xinyuan village in Ruijin, a city of east China's Jiangxi Province, July 3, 2009. More than 60,000 people have been transfered due to the flood caused by heavy rainfall in south Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Song Zhenping)

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the rainstorms had forced the evacuation of at least 63,180 people in the southern part of the province. The rain brought a direct economic loss of 311.5 million (about 45.8 million U.S. dollars) to five counties and cities, namely Chongyi, Dayu, Xinfeng, Ganxian and Nankang, according to the Gannan city flood control authorities.

Many reservoirs were swollen because of the rain, among which six were discharging water, while levels in the rest were under the alarm line.

People walk on a flooded street in Guilin, a city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. Due to heavy rainfall, the water level of Lijiang River which passes Guilin reached 147.5 meters at 17:00 pm on Friday, 1.8 meters over the alert level. Some scenic spots in Guilin City has been closed. (Xinhua/Chen Ruihua)
The effects of a landslide Tuesday evening on the Yichun section of the Shanghai-Kunming railway are still being felt and a train from Guangdong was delayed by seven hours. It was not until Friday morning that nearly 1,500 workers fixed the line.

In south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, more than 150,000 people in the scenic Guilin city were affected by torrential rains. Water levels in 52 reservoirs had exceeded safety level.


Halted bamboo rafts are seen on the Lijiang River in Guilin, a city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. Due to heavy rainfall, the water level of Lijiang River reached 147.5 meters at 17:00 pm on Friday, 1.8 meters over the alert level. Some scenic spots in Guilin City has been closed. (Xinhua/Chen Ruihua)

In the Lingui county, 14 people were trapped by floods, among whom nine were saved while rescuers are trying the reach the rest five.


A water level marker is seen on the Lijiang River in Guilin, a city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. Due to heavy rainfall, the water level of Lijiang River reached 147.5 meters at 17:00 pm on Friday, 1.8 meters over the alert level. Some scenic spots in Guilin City has been closed. (Xinhua/Chen Ruihua)

Source: Xinhua