1st LD Writethru: New round of rain causes 14 deaths

Heavy rain has left 14 people dead and 8 others missing in south China since Thursday, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Sunday.

Storms have hit most of southern China since Thursday, pushing water levels in rivers to dangerous levels and swelling many reservoirs.

Some 9,000 houses collapsed and 710,000 hectares of crops have been damaged in seven southern provinces. Combined losses have been estimated at around 9.1 billion yuan (1.37 billion U.S. dollars).

The headquarters said as of Sunday, rain-triggered floods have left 186 people dead and 45 others missing in 26 provincial regions, displaced 1.48 million people and caused 50.6 billion yuan in direct economic losses.P It said the flood-control situation remains grave as two rounds of rainstorms are forecast to hit southern regions over the next ten days. Nepartak, the first typhoon of the year, is expected to bring gales and downpours to eastern coastal areas next week.

The country's weather authority suggested people in southern areas reduce outdoor activities on rainy days and take precautions against possible floods and landslides. Endi