BEIJING, Aug. 12 -- China's national flood prevention headquarters said on Tuesday that 50.27 million people across the country have been affected by floods this year, with 311 people killed and 88 missing.

As of Aug. 12, direct losses caused by floods amounted to 107.8 billion yuan (17.52 billion U.S. dollars), the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said.

But the headquarters noted the number impacted by floods was halved and deaths were down by 60 percent compared with the average in the past 14 years.

Data showed China's seven major rivers remained below flood levels since the start of the flood season while several smaller rivers have experienced a surge of floodwaters.