The death toll from torrential rains in China rose to 28 on Wednesday as five more fatalities were confirmed in the central province of Hunan.

Seven people in Hunan died in collapsed buildings, floods or landslides triggered by the rains, and 11 others were missing as of 9:00 AM Wednesday. The death toll stood at two on Tuesday, according to the Hunan Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Downpours have hit six cities in Hunan since Monday evening, damaging 4,700 hectares of farmland, toppling more than 400 buildings and cutting off five highways, the headquarters said.

Elsewhere, flooding and hail triggered by downpours left 18 dead and 12 missing in the southwest China's Guizhou Province while thunderstorms and lightning claimed three lives in Hubei Province, in central China.

About 4,000 people were stranded Wednesday by floods after rainstorms hit the east China's Jiangxi Province. Police have been mobilized to help with the rescue.

An official with the county government of Shangli, Jiangxi, said about 100,000 people were affected by the rainstorms and 17 villages were hit by floods.

Rainstorms developed in Jiangxi on Tuesday evening, with Shangli the worst affected. The county seat of Shangli had recorded an unusual rain total, of 391 millimeters, as of 8:00 AM Wednesday.

The China Meteorological Administration warned on Tuesday that torrential rains would hit the eastern and central part of the country over the next three days, which increased the possibility of floods and mud-rock flows.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued a warning urging provinces to keep a close watch on the changing weather and act to avert possible danger.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2008)