Nearly 380,000 affected as flooding batters east China's Jiangxi

Nearly 380,000 people have been hit by floods as a fresh spell of heavy rains caused inundation in 10 cities in east China's Jiangxi Province, local authorities said Friday.

The downpours that started Tuesday have led to the evacuation of 21,000 people. A total of 117 houses collapsed in the floods, which also damaged 24,300 hectares of crops, according to the provincial emergency management bureau.

Direct economic losses were estimated at 350 million yuan (about 49.32 million U.S. dollars), it said.

Meteorological authorities forecast rainy weather until Sunday, warning of sporadic heavy rains and geological disasters.

The bureau has dispatched two groups of experts to six cities to guide local officials in dealing with geological disasters.