Floods triggered by torrential rain over the past four days have left two people dead, one missing and another injured and forced the evacuation of almost 50,000 residents in the south China island province of Hainan.

Floods also submerged 157 villages and inundated about 12,000 hectares of crops in the low-lying areas, said Yang Yunxian of the Hainan provincial flood-control headquarters.

"Downpours have pounded most parts of the island since Saturday, making several major rivers swell and 425 reservoirs overflow. The rainfall reached 485.8 mm in some areas."

Citizens had to wade across flooded streets in the provincial capital Haikou and many other cities, he said.

"Traffic was hampered and vegetable prices went up, bringing difficulty to the daily lives of citizens."

The provincial government sent relief teams to different disaster-stricken areas.

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2008)