Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain have left 15 people dead and two missing in southwest China's Sichuan Province, a spokesman with the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said on Tuesday.

Two villagers from Tingzi Township of Dazhou City were engulfed by a flash flood Monday afternoon, bringing the death toll in the city to 10.

In Dazhou, 64 other people were injured and about 2.3 million people affected in 132 counties and townships. Sixteen reservoirs were damaged and about 4,000 houses collapsed or were destroyed.

It also triggered landslides, deluged croplands, blocked roads, and cut off telecommunications, electricity and drinking water supplies in parts of the city.

About 127,000 people in the province have been relocated as a result of the floods, which have caused direct losses worth 326 million yuan (US$42 million), said the spokesman.

According to a weather forecast from the Sichuan Meteorological Bureau, the northeastern part of the province will see fresh downpours and thunderstorms beginning Wednesday night through Friday.

Torrential rain also hit neighboring Chongqing Municipality and central Hubei Province. No fatalities have yet been reported.

The MCA has dispatched a team to the region to assist relief work. Deputy governor Guo Yongxiang arrived at worst-hit Dazhou to guide disaster-relief operations.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2007)