TORRENTIAL rains have killed at least 381 people nationwide, with 98 others still missing as of last Tuesday, according to the latest figures from the State Flood Prevention Headquarters.

Roughly 78 per cent of the deaths were caused by landslides. The continuous downpours have also flooded farm land, and toppled 197,000 houses across the country, causing direct economic losses reaching 14.85 billion yuan (US$1.79 billion). Yet the situation is still worsening.

The latest report from the Xinhua News Agency said that over 50 counties and cities along the main course of the Yangtze River have witnessed landslides and flooding caused by the continuously rising water level of the River.

In Central China's Hunan Province, one of the most seriously affected areas, nine counties have been submerged and 284 roads obstructed.

Among 219 hydrometric stations which monitor rainfall in the province, 65 reported a rainfall of over 50mm. The highest level of precipitation was in Huaihua city, where 368mm was recorded.

By 4:00am last Monday, nearly one third of Huaihua's urban area had been flooded, with the deepest water level approaching six metres.

Local officials said that the city has suffered 970 landslides, with two people killed. So far, some 102,000 people have been transferred to safer areas.

To make matters worse, a section of the Yangtze River embankment in Tiaojiang county in the province was found to have ruptured due to the continuous rainfall. The breach - which is over 10 metres long - puts some 100,000 people behind the barrier under great threat.

The local government is hurriedly seeking funds to repair the whole embankment, although this will require at least 40 million yuan (US$4.8 million).

In South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the flooding situation hasn't seen any alleviation although it had already claimed 24 lives by Tuesday. Some 28 counties and cities in the region are suffering from the floods, affecting a population of over 2.66 million. The deepest water levels were found in the region's Hechi city. All 12 streets and more than 200 houses there have been submerged.

In neighbouring Yunnan Province, the floods in Nujiang have killed six people, with 11 still missing by 6:00pm Monday. Statistics show that 7,570 people have been badly affected, with 3,638 houses collapsed and 310 hectares of fields under water.

The weather forecast indicates that there will be yet more rainfall over the next few days.

Also hit hard is Central China's Henan Province. About 60,000 residents in the province have been transferred to safe areas during the past few days after sections of the swelling Lihe River overflowed and parts of the embankment burst.

President Hu Jintao has urged flood prevention and control authorities, local governments, the People's Liberation Army, the armed police, and police forces to thoroughly prepare for a further deterioration in the situation, making themselves ready to ensure safety and to ensure adequate arrangements were in place to maintain the daily lives of residents displaced by floods.

To better handle the situation, an expert team composed of 43 experts in flood control and disaster management has been set up to improve the technological level of anti-flooding efforts.

Authorities said disasters were likely to occur throughout China at any time in the days ahead, since the entire country was now in the midst of its major flood season.