In China, rainstorms have pounded parts of the Central Hubei province over the past few days, affecting more than 2 lakh 10,000 people. A spokesman with the Hubei provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said the downpours have inundated more than 35,000 hectares of cropland and led to the collapse of 191 houses. He said altogether 1,349 residents have been evacuated from low-lying areas. Torrential rains have also forced 13 plants to halt production and disrupted traffic on 45 highways. The spokesman said direct economic losses from the rainstorms amounted to 19 .5 million U.S. dollars. Local authorities of water resources, civil affairs and transportation as well as military personnel have launched a disaster relief operation.