At least eight people were killed in lightning strikes during storms since Friday in southwest China's Yunnan Province, the provincial civil affairs administration said Wednesday.

They were hit by lightning in different prefectures during thunderstorms that triggered floods from Friday to Tuesday, the administration said.

Maximum precipitation reached 124 millimeters and the average level was 25 mm, forcing the evacuation of 580 people.

More than 140 homes collapsed, about 700 were damaged, and about 7,900 hectares of crops were damaged, incurring losses of 59.29 million yuan (US$8.67 million).

Workers are fixing damaged roads and water conservancy facilities. Food, clothes and other disaster-relief materials are being distributed to those affected.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2009)