Rainfall affects 8 million in Hunan Province  

湖南今年入汛以来近800万人受灾 因灾死亡17人

湖南省防汛抗旱指挥部1日向外界披露，今年入汛以来，该省14个市州共121个县市区1598个乡镇796.09万人受灾，倒塌房屋2.25万间，因灾死亡17人，失踪2人，转移人口51.23万人，直接经济损失99.24亿元人民币。

Changsha (CNS) -- Since the high-water season started in Hunan Province, 7,960,900, residents have been severely affected by heavy rainfall. The local authority counts 17 dead and two missing as of August 1.

Provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters confirm 512,300 people were forced to evacuate, 22,500 houses collapsed, and direct economic losses hit 9.92 billion yuan.

According to statistics, Hunan Province went through 131 days with rainfall, 11 percent up over the average. Since mid July, tributaries of the Xiang River, the main stream of the Zi River, the lower reaches of the Yuan River and Dongting Lake have seen water levels rise above warning levels, the headquarters said.

It is known more than 50,000 workers are now stationed day and night at Dongting Lake on emergency stand-by.