Sudden rainstorms and thunderstorms hit south China's Guangdong Province on Monday and Tuesday, destroying more than 1,300 houses and delaying some flights at the province's largest airport.

From Monday to Tuesday, 47 cities and counties reported daily rainfall of at least 50 mm, with the maximum rainfall of 186.3 mm.

Strong gales slammed Guangzhou, the provincial capital, on Tuesday. In Huadu, the wind was recorded at 30 meters a second.

Heyuan city was most seriously stricken in the province, where more that 1,300 houses were destroyed and 130,000 people were affected. Crops were destroyed on 3,610 hectares of land.

In Heping county, more than 20,000 residents were evacuated.

No casualties have been reported.

The rainstorms, accompanied by thunder and lightening, continued for the whole morning on Tuesday, postponing 20 flights for more than two hours and stranding at least 2,000 passengers at Baiyun Airport, the province's largest, said sources with the airport.

The rainstorm are expected to lessen from Wednesday, experts with the provincial meteorological bureau said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2007)