Continuous storms hit parts of east China's Jiangsu Province since June 21, which have dumped 316 millimeters of rain and have collapsed houses, inundated croplands and caused dozens of casualties.

From June 21 to July 5, this coastal province has had the most rainfall since 1961, nearly four times the average of this period in many years, according to the provincial meteorological bureau.

The disastrous weather inundated large tracts of cropland and forests and rising water levels are threatening to overflow the shores of a major lake along the lower Huaihe River that runs across the province.

Water flowing into Hongze Lake hit 6,500 cubic meters per second, leading to rising water levels, the bureau said.

A cyclone in an area of the province also caused dozens of casualties, according to the bureau.

Meanwhile, the water levels in other major lakes along the Huaihe River are also rising to flood levels, said the Huaihe River Water Resources Commission.

A rainstorm emergency plan has been implemented to prevent flooding. The plan includes draining of flooded croplands and monitoring of water levels in major lakes and rivers in the province.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)