Rainfall hit part of China's quake areas Saturday afternoon and evening, triggering mud-rock flow in a town but causing no casualties.
A slight rainfall began in Qingchuan County in Sichuan at 8:10 pm Saturday, adding new difficulties to the struggling survivors as their tents could not prevent water.
The rainy weather might cause some houses to collapse and worsen the disaster situation.
Rainfall might also speed up the water rise of a river in Hongguang Town in Qingchuan as it was blocked by quake-triggered landslides. Further rise might threaten the safety of some quake-affected people, residents said.
In Wenxian County, a worst hit area in Gansu Province which neighbors Sichuan, a 40-minute heavy rainfall with strong gales at about 5 pm Saturday triggered mud-rock flow in Chengguan Town. Two roadside cars were swept away and another two destroyed. But no casualties were reported.
Rain seeped into some temporary tents of the county's quake-affected residents. Some tents were damaged by the wind. The area was forecast to have continuous rain in the early hours of Sunday.
Both the areas were severely affected by the 7.8-magnitude quake on Monday afternoon. The epicenter was in Wenchuan County, Sichuan.
(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)
