A rainstorm has battered northwest China's Shaanxi Province from the early morning of Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday, causing water volume on some stretches of Hanjiang River, a branch of the Yangtze, to increase dramatically.

The rainstorm is claimed to be the largest so far this flood season in Shaanxi Province, and 84 counties within the province have received rainfall.

About 21 villages and townships have been affected by the rainstorm and some stretches of No. 108 national highway have collapsed. Power supply and mobile telecommunications services in Ningqiang County were temporarily suspended due to floods.

The Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Tuesday released an urgent notice urging relevant departments to closely observe the situation, intensify patrolling of embankments and transfer local residents who live in landslide-threatened areas.

According to the weather forecast, the Hanjiang River valley can expect further heavy rain and the flood control situation on the river would continue to be severe.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2003)