Torrential rain has been slamming south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since Friday, leaving a three-year-old girl dead and more than 364,700 people affected.

The rain demolished 500 rooms and destroyed crops on 18,812 hectares in the cities of Beihai, Hechi and Laibin, causing a direct economic loss of 85.86 million yuan (US$12.3 million), said a spokesman for the regional flood control headquarters.

The rain may also lead to a crop failure of about 14,170 tons of grain, the spokesman said.

In addition, three industrial and mining enterprises suspended operation and three highways were damaged because of the rain.

Meteorological experts in Guangxi predicted the torrential rain would continue for the coming two days.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2008)