Torrential rains over central China's Hunan Province since Monday night have affected 38,000 people, damaging homes and crops and washing out roads.

The rain fell mainly in the areas of the Yuanshui River, the upper reaches of the Lishui River and Dongting Lake. The Tongcheping Hydrologic Station, in Yuanling county, recorded 224 mm of rainfall on Tuesday morning, said a Hunan Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters official.

Some 38,000 people in six townships of Yuanling county were affected by the downpour, with 295 residential building damaged and two destroyed. A total of 730 hectares of crops were affected and 210 ha will have no harvest.

No casualties were reported.

A total of 11 sections of No. 228 Provincial Highway were inundated and a section of 21 kilometers has been closed. Communications in Jiemuxi township and power supplies in Beirong township were cut.

The rain is heading from north to the south and will continue until Thursday, according to the provincial meteorological station forecast on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)