The death toll from flooding in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has risen to 23 with 26 missing, local government officials said on Wednesday.

The officials with Shangluo city government said the flood, triggered by heavy rains, has caused losses of 516 million yuan (US$68.2 million).

More than 530,000 people in Shangluo have been affected and 140,000 trees were destroyed.

Heavy rains started to hit the city on last Saturday, and 295.7 mm fell in the worst-hit area of Danfeng County on Saturday and Sunday.

The provincial government of Shaanxi said Tuesday that flooding had affected 660,000 people in 16 counties and forced the evacuation of 38,100 people.

The rainstorms also disrupted traffic on the highway to Beijing and cut power supplies and communications in some counties.

The provincial treasury has allocated 3.5 million yuan (US$450,000) to relief funds.

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

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2007)