Another 40 people were seriously injured in the storms, which started hitting eastern and northern parts of Sichuan Province on Thursday, the province's disaster relief office was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The downpours triggered mudslides and landslides, destroying farmlands and reservoirs while paralysing local transport, the report said.

Local governments were organising rescue operations and relocating residents, said the relief office.

The provincial meteorological authorities have forecast more rainstorms in the next few days, the report said.

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