China's Ministry of Land and Resources issued an alert Thursday warning that new flooding and landslides were very likely to occur in some regions in south China between Thursday evening and Friday.

Heavy rains have been continuously battering south China for five straight days, triggering floods and landslides that killed at least 42 people as of Wednesday, with dozens missing.

The ministry has issued a second most urgent disaster alert for eastern Fujian and Jiangxi provinces, central Hunan Province, southern Guangdong Province, and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Parts of southwestern Yunnan Province which, since last autumn, had endured the worst drought in decades before the monsoons began this year, may also see rain-triggered disasters, the ministry said.

The ministry warned local residents, schools, and companies to closely monitor weather developments and take precautions to avoid additional injuries and deaths.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2010)