Heavy rainstorms in 98 counties of northwest China's Shaanxi Province since Sunday have left three dead and three others missing, the local flood control department said on Thursday.
   
Floods, mountain torrents and mud-rock flows triggered in the counties of Zhenping, Pingli, Baihe, Shangnan and Zuoshui affected over 180,000 people.

A mother and her two children from Chongqing Municipality were killed in a landslide caused by floods in Hualong Village of Shangzhu County.

More than 600 houses were destroyed, along with 50,000 mu (3,300 hectares) of farmland, causing direct economic losses of nearly 100 million yuan (US$12.2 million).

Some river embankments, power, communications and traffic facilities were severely damaged. Roadbeds of No.207 Highway's Langao-Zhenping section were damaged and are being repaired, according to Ankang City's highway bureau.

The local meteorological station said the rainstorms are not expected to come to a halt until Monday.
   
Civil affairs departments at all levels in the province are busy relocating those who have been made homeless.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2005)