A helicopter dispatched Wednesday by China's Ministry of Transport saved 14 people trapped by floods in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region following heavy rains.

Zheng Jian, an official in charge of rescue with the ministry, earlier said some 10 people were trapped by floods Wednesday in Sanjiang Town of Guangxi. Local flood control authorities had sought help for those caught by high waters, however the rapids made it impossible for boats to rescue those trapped.

Zheng said the helicopter, number B-7120, took off in the morning from Zhanjiang city in neighboring Guangdong Province, saving all 14 trapped people in three hours' time.

Rainstorms that began pelting south China on Sunday, later triggered floods and landslides. As of Wednesday, China's Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said at least 42 people were dead and 36 missing due to the flooding.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2010)