Downpours kill 3 in east China

Torrential rains have left three people dead and forced relocation of more than 1,600 others in east China's Jiangxi Province, according to local authorities.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, downpours that have struck 27 counties since May 10 have affected the lives of 300,000 people. The storms have toppled the homes of 203 families and seriously damaged those of 222 others, according to statistics from the provincial civil affairs department.

Three people have died after being struck by lightning.

The disaster has caused direct economic losses of 130 million yuan (about 21 million U.S. dollars), more than half of which was caused by damage to 19,200 hectares of crops.

The meteorological observatory of Jiangxi predicted that the rainfall will last until May 17.

The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters has ordered local authorities to keep a close eye on reservoirs, rivers and ponds that are prone to rain-triggered disasters.