Downpours destroy NE China houses, crops

Heavy downpours that have hit Daqing city in northeast China's Heilongjiang province since July have so far damaged 2,101 houses in 68 towns and villages, local authorities said on Thursday.

Rain-triggered flooding has ruined 133,000 hectares of crops or plants, resulting in direct economic losses of 480 million yuan (78.4 million US dollars), according to local authorities.

In the worst-hit Lindian County, 115,000 people have been affected, and 1,152 houses have collapsed.