Torrential rains have hit southwest and central china, triggering floods and landslides in some regions. The rainstorms have left one person missing and affected more than 190 thousand people in En'shi City of Hubei Province.

Chongqing, Sichuan, Shanxi and Guizhou also suffered from the downpour.

In Lichuan County of Hubei, precipitation was as much as 123 millimeter. Farmlands and houses alongside the county's Qingjiang River were flooded by the rushing water.

In Sichuan's Badong county near the Three Gorges Reservoir, landslides have been aggravated by the heavy rain.

In Shandong Province, nearly 1.5 million people and more than 200 thousand hectares of croplands have been affected.

In Guizhou Province, heavy rains raised the water level of a reservoir and threatened over 400 thousand households in the region.

Weather forecasters have warned relevant departments to strengthen monitoring and prevention work.

(CCTV May 15, 2009)