53 dead in China flooding

BEIJING, May 29 (UPI) -- As China's Sichuan province still reels from this month's earthquake havoc, heavy flooding has hit nearby regions, killing dozens.

The floods were triggered by torrential rains that showed no signs of letting up.

At least 53 people have died so far, while another 28 were missing, Xinhua reported.

The report said Guizhou province was the worst hit, with 36 people killed by flash floods and 14 missing. Other deaths were reported in the provinces of Hunan, Guangxi, Hubei and Jiangxi.

In Guizhou's Wangmo County, 46,000 people were affected and hundreds of buildings were buried by landslides or were flooded, the report said. The severe weather also has cut off highways and damaged communications facilities in the county.

In Sichuan province, the worst-affected by the May 12 earthquake, forecasters warned of high winds that could blow away tents set up for those made homeless by the quake. They also said rocks loosened by the quake in the mountainous areas could be brought down by the winds.

The China Meteorological Administration said more rain could lash the eastern and southern parts of the country in the next three days.