DAZHOU, Sichan, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Heavy rains and ensuing flooding since July 6 have left 22 people dead and four others missing in Dazhou City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, local government said on Sunday.

    The rainstorm-triggered floods have struck five county seats and 66 towns of Dazhou, affecting the life of 3.75 million people and damaging over 27,000 houses. The disasters caused an estimated economic loss of over 2.6 billion yuan (314 million US dollars), according to the Dazhou city government.

    The city government has allocated 20 million yuan (2.41 millionUS dollars) in relief funds to affected counties and towns.

    The civil affairs, water resources and communications ministries as well as the Sichuan Provincial Government have sent working teems to the affected areas to direct disaster relief work.

    As rains stopped by Sunday morning, flood water began receding from Dazhou city proper. Thanks to effective measures taken by the local government, power and water supplies have resumed and the life of urban residents returned to normal.

    The Dazhou city government has distributed tents, food and medicines to rural areas which were worst hit by rains and flooding. Efforts are also being made to resume power and water supply in rural areas, according to Dazhou city government.

    The neighboring Guizhou Province, also in southwest China, was hit by rainstorms on Sunday morning.

    According to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, floods marooned 250 villagers in Huachu Town of Puding County. By 3:00 p.m. Sunday, all the trapped villagers have been evacuated to safe places.

    Sunday's rainstorms also caused flooding in some areas in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province. About 38,500 people in Guiyang's five counties were affected by flooding, which also toppled 64 houses and damaged 3,000 hectares of crops.

    Relief work is still going on in disaster-affected areas. Enditem