Central China hit with severe rains

WUHAN, China, April 20 (UPI) -- Heavy rains in China's Hubei province have collapsed houses, ruined crops and forced residents to flee their homes, local officials say.

In all, more than 200,000 residents have been affected by the unrelenting storms, Xinhua reported Sunday.

No deaths have been reported, but a civil affairs department spokesman estimated damages at $2.6 million, Xinhua said.

Water flowing from the mountains has flooded the village of Sahne and warnings of landslides and floods were issued for Hubei in the coming days, the Wuhan observatory said.