Heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in China

More storms will hit eastern and southwestern provinces in three days

Many parts of China have been hit by torrential rains over the last few days, resulting in the evacuation of millions of people and multiple natural disasters, authorities said on Monday.

In East China's Zhejiang province, heavy rains have forced 17,000 people to relocate and affected the lives of more than 350,000 others since June 22, according to the Zhejiang flood control headquarters.

A 12-year-old girl was killed when her house was buried in a landslide at 6:40 pm on Saturday in Zhejiang's Songyang county, the headquarters said.

Rains have also battered Central China's Hunan province since June 21, killing one person, leaving another missing and affecting the lives of 138,000 others, according to the Hunan flood control headquarters.

A landslide was triggered in Hunan's Chenzhou, blocking roads and rivers and stranding 130 tourists, according to the Hunan flood control headquarters.

South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has been hit by downpours since June 21. In the hard-hit city of Hezhou, more than 10,000 people have been evacuated and economic losses of 200 million yuan ($31.75 million) have been incurred, according to the city's flood control officials.

One resident of Hezhou died in a hospital after suffering serious injuries during a landslide, while another was crushed to death during a house collapse, local officials said.

More rain and storms are expected to hit Zhejiang, Fujian and Anhui provinces in East China, as well as Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces in the southwest, over the next three days. Precipitation in some areas may total as much as 160 mm, according to the National Meteorological Center.

On Monday afternoon, the National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued an emergency response plan urging local civil affairs departments to fully prepare for the upcoming rains so as to "reduce ensuing damage as much as possible".

According to the ministry, residents in the south should be ready to take precautions against the rains, while local governments must ensure that relief personnel and materials are sent to disaster-hit areas as soon as possible.

"Local civil affairs departments should open emergency shelters in advance and the evacuation and resettlement of affected residents must be carried out properly. Around-the-clock duty personnel should report disaster information to higher authorities in a timely manner," said the plan.

Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Center forecast moderate to heavy rains in Northwest China, including Qinghai and Gansu provinces, over the next three days. The rainy weather will help ease high temperatures in the north.

The National Meteorological Center said torrential rains battered most of Beijing on Sunday night, adding that the capital will experience mostly cloudy weather over the next three days.