Heavy rain killed seven people and left three others missing in the past two days in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said on Monday.

Rain swept the central and southern part of the province starting on Saturday afternoon, triggering a landslide in Xiaohemiao Village, Mianxian County, and engulfing a farmhouse with five people inside. All were later confirmed dead.

Three other villagers were swept away by floods and are still being sought.

The flood also claimed two lives in Zhouzhi County.

Provincial meteorological authorities have forecast heavy rain through Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2008)