Eight killed in China rain storms

At least eight people were killed and 18 others were reported missing after heavy rains affected southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The rain and floods have affected 564,000 people in six cities, and 12,500 people have been relocated, according to figures released by the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

Six deaths and all of the missing were reported in Xuyong County, Luzhou City. Mudslides on Monday morning destroyed homes and cut off power, telecommunications and roads.

The storm has inflicted direct economic losses of about $32.8 million, damaging 20,470 hectares of farmland.