Floods and landslides in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have claimed 26 lives, with another three missing, according to local flood prevention authorities.

The death was caused by an overnight torrential rainstorm that began late on Tuesday in the autonomous region's Ili River valley.

Local authorities said the disaster has also claimed a large number of livestock. The highway between Gongliu County and Tekes County was washed away in four places, trapping over 100 cars. Houses in the two counties, and in Nilka County, were also damaged.

The rain had stopped by press time and a disaster rescue team organized by the government and the army is clearing debris, allowing traffic through on main roads.

But the local meteorological station warned of more rain and storms to come this season.

Meanwhile, not only natural disasters claim lives. In the 600-kilometres-long Three Gorges Reservoir, 21 major shipping accidents happened despite improvements in navigation channels.

The reservoir started to fill with water on June 1 and the water level has risen to about 118 meters.

Seven people died and three were missing as a result of the accidents, most of which were caused by carelessness.

Friday, the State Meteorological Administration issued a thunderstorm alert to many parts of the country and called on authorities to prepare counter-disaster plans.

This weekend, showers or thunderstorms are likely to hit northern parts of North China and Northeast China. Heavy rain to stormy showers are expected in Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan and Hunan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

(China Daily June 7, 2003)