Sources with the Central Meteorological Observatory said parts of Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi and Sichuan provinces have been hit with heavy downpours.

"Precipitation during the first 20 days of June in most parts of North China is 50 per cent higher than average for the period last year," the source said.

"The drought situation in some provinces in North and Northeast China, on the other hand, has been easing over this period.

"But floods caused by the strong and prolonged rainfall have caused heavy losses, especially in Shaanxi," the source added.

Heavy rain hit the province in Northwest China again from Friday to yesterday. Subsequent flooding has damaged large areas of farmland and many houses in Zhenba, Xixiang and Ningshan counties in southern Shaanxi, according to local flood control authorities.

"In most parts of Zhenba, a mountainous county in southern Shaanxi, power and telecommunications were cut off and a large number of roads, bridges and homes were destroyed by the flood," according to a local report.

No fatalities, however, had been reported by press time yesterday, thanks to the arrangement for local people to leave their homes for shelters before the rain hit, said Lian Lixin, an official with the government of Zhenba County.

From June 21 to yesterday, heavy rain hit 47 cities and counties in Shaanxi and weather reports say that the rain is expected to continue for at least two more days.

Local governments and residents have been put on high alert against the coming flooding, said Peng Qian, director of Shaanxi Provincial Water Resources Department.

While heavy rains continue to hit the country, the rebuilding of already ravaged areas is in full swing.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been mobilized to repair railways, highways and other infrastructure in flood-stricken areas in 19 provinces and autonomous regions, and the farmers there are busy cleaning up their fields and replanting.

Foping County in Shaanxi Province, isolated by flood waters from June 8 to 10, is accessible again, with the major road linking it to the outside having been repaired last week.

The rebuilding of a railway bridge on a major east-west line across China, which was destroyed by floods on June 9, was back in service on Friday.

The reconstructed Bahe River railway bridge near Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi, is scheduled for completion in September and will handle expanded rail traffic.

(China Daily June 24, 2002)