170,000 affected in NE China flood

HARBIN - Heavy rain that has hammered Northeast China's Heilongjiang province since Wednesday has affected about 170,000 people in 23 counties and districts, local authorities said on Thursday.

One person has been killed and 381 houses damaged in rain-triggered flooding, according to the provincial civil affairs department.

The downpours have ruined or damaged 66,000 hectares of crops or plants, resulting in direct economic losses of 300 million yuan ($48.6 million).

Lindian county and Hulin city were worst hit. The water level of the 726-km-long Mudanjiang River, a major waterway in the province, rose by 1.16 meters between 8 am on Wednesday and 8 am on Thursday, according to the provincial hydrographic bureau.