Twenty people are dead and 850,000 people affected after rainstorms ravaged much of north China's Shanxi Province, the provincial civil affairs department said Tuesday.

Heavy rain or storms hit 71 counties from Saturday to Monday, leveling 4,345 homes and damaging 9,600 others.

The deaths were caused by landslides, floods and lightning, the department said.

Yuanqu County, in Yuncheng City, had rain for 36 consecutive hours from 8:00 PM Saturday to 8:00 AM Monday with a precipitation of more than 300 millimeters, according to the provincial meteorological station.

The downpours left four dead and caused a power blackout in the whole county seat of Yuanqu.

Many areas were still being evacuated and tents were being sent to the areas worst affected, the civil affairs department said.

Weather forecasts show showers or heavy rain will continue in the province till Aug. 5.

Natural disasters, including floods, landslides and lightning, have killed more than 700 people in China this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2007)