Nine people were killed, four were injured and one is missing as a result of rainstorm-introduced floods as of 6 PM Wednesday in southwestern part of Sichuan Province, local government announced.

Rescuers are searching for the farmer missing in a landslide in Yanbian County of Panzhihua City, according to the provincial disaster relief office.

The flood-stricken areas include four counties in the cities of Panzhihua and Ziyang in the province's western and southern parts, which were hit by rapid mountain torrents and mud-rock flows with more than 23,000 people affected, according to the office.

Those homeless have been well accommodated and relief materials, like drinkable water, instant noodles, quilts and tents have been sent to the four counties, according to the office.

Even though direct economic loss is being counted, local government said the loss was "huge" as the traffic in the areas was cut off and facilities of power supply and telecom also suffered considerable damage.

A relief work team, made up of the officials from the provincial department of civil affairs, land and resources, flood relief office, have arrived at the affected areas to assist the rescue work.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2005)