At least 28 people died during floods and rainstorms across China over the last week, local authorities said on Monday.

Heavy rainfall from June 28 to July 2 left three people drowned and more than 1,700 houses had been destroyed in East China's Anhui Province, according to sources with the provincial water resources department.

By Sunday, rainfall in Sixian, Xiaoxian and Fengyang counties exceeded 300 millimeters, affecting more than 1.2 million people, said the department.

In neighboring Henan Province, rainstorms pelted most of the province Sunday, causing dams to burst in Xiashuihe Village and Shihe Village in Yuzhou City, said provincial government sources on Monday.

Three villagers in Yuzhou had been confirmed dead and a seven-year-old girl was missing, according to the sources. Torrential rains also destroyed 398 houses and 22 bridges in a dozen townships in Yuzhou.

Floods hit Huludao City of northeast China's Liaoning Province after torrential rain on June 29 and 30, leaving eight dead and one missing, said the provincial headquarters for flood control and drought relief.

Last week, mountain torrents and mud-and-rock flows caused by continuous rainstorms hit parts of southwest China's Sichuan Province, leaving 14 dead and two missing, said the provincial government

People in the disaster-hit areas have started to rebuild their homes with the help of local governments, who are also carrying out relief operations and making efforts to prevent floods.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2006)