Twelve people are dead and nine missing after torrential rain brought flash floods to southern Sichuan Province, southwest China on Sunday, the emergency response office of the provincial government said on Monday.

According to a report of the office's Panzhihua City branch, Miyi, a mountainous area of the city, was hit by rainstorms between 10:00 PM Sunday and 6:00 AM Monday, the office said.

Another 36 people were injured in the floods.

The office said Sichuan's Vice Governor Zhang Zuoha was leading a working group to Miyi to help with the relief operation.

The extent of damage in Miyi is being assessed.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2009)