Nonstop downpours batter SW China

Continuous and severe downpours are seriously battering southwest China's Sichuan Province, local government authorities said on Thursday.

The province, which suffered an earthquake in 2008 and this year, has seen heavy rainfall since Monday evening.

As of Thursday noon, 231 people remained trapped in Hongbai Township in Deyang City, said the city government.

About 234,000 people have been affected and four people are still missing in the city.

Local government authorities have sent three teams with 39 rescuers to reach the trapped people, and relocated 18,912 others to avoid them from any potential risks.

Heavy rainfall has also cut off access to roads and toppled houses in many parts of Sichuan.

As of Thursday morning, flooding cut off all routes into three townships in Maoxian County.

A landslide has led to 12 deaths in a village in Dujiangyan City, said the city government on Thursday.

Local authorities are trying to find out the exact number of people missing in the region. Search and rescue work is underway.