Two dead, 50,000 evacuated as floods ravage S China

A vehicle trudges its way through the waterlogged street in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 14, 2008. Monsoon rain hit the island in recent days flooding 12 cities and counties and causing two dead in the region. (Xinhua Photo)

A woman trudges her way through the waterlogged street in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Two municipal working staff work on the waterlogged street in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

A woman trudges her way through the waterlogged street in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 14, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

HAIKOU, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Floods triggered by torrential rainover the past four days have left two people dead, one missing and another injured and forced the evacuation of almost 50,000 residents in the southern China island province of Hainan.

Floods also submerged 157 villages and inundated about 12,000 hectares of crops in the low-lying areas, said Yang Yunxian of the Hainan provincial flood-control headquarters.

"Downpours have pounded most parts of the island since Saturday, making several major rivers swell and 425 reservoirs overflow. The rainfall reached 485.8 mm in some areas."

Citizens had to wade across flooded streets in the provincial capital Haikou and many other cities, he said.

"Traffic was hampered and vegetable prices went up, bringing difficulty to the daily lives of citizens."

The provincial government sent relief teams to different disaster-stricken areas.