Nine dead after heavy rain in east China

HEFEI - Downpours have left nine dead and affected 1.22 million people in east China's Anhui province over the past 10 days, local authorities said Thursday.

Torrential rains have forced the evacuation of 1,042 people, destroyed 781 houses and inundated 82,400 hectares of cropland, acccording to the Anhui Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.

Direct economic losses stood at about 434 million yuan ($68.9 million), it said.

Local authorities have earmarked 1.6 million yuan for carrying out disaster relief work.