A total of 15 people have been killed in disasters caused by heavy rains that hit the northwestern province of Gansu in the past five days since August 24, provincial official said Friday.

A total of 520,000 local people in 160 towns of 19 counties have been victimized by rainstorms that were rare in this usually drought province, causing economic losses of 117 million yuan (over US$14 million), according to An Jingxiu, deputy chief of the office of the Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

The downpour, ravaging six cities and regions of Qingyang, Pingliang, Wuwei, Tianshui, Dingxi and Longnan, destroyed a total of 7,575 homes or cave-houses, the typical residence for local people, and affected about 13,870 hectares of croplands, and damaged three reservoirs and roads, said An.

Senior provincial officials have been in downpour ravaged areas to organize rescue work.

Meteorological forecasts indicated that more heavy rain will continue to hit parts of the province on Saturday, according to the office.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2003)