英语文摘:Further storms forecast as death toll continues to climb

BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Flooding and landslides triggered by recent heavy rain have killed at least 42 people as of Wednesday in the worst hit provinces like Guangxi, Fujian and Sichuan, while 49 others are still missing.

Storms are forecast to continue to sweep across most parts of South China over the next 10 days, with some areas due to receive 250mm of rain, the China Meteorological Administration said on Wednesday.

The national weather forecaster said rainstorms will also hit Guizhou, Sichuan, Fujian and Guangdong the following week.

The National Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert on Wednesday morning for heavy rain across parts of China.

Residents wade through the waterlogged street in Nanning, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 15. A fresh spell of heavy rains has pounded Guangxi since June 14, triggering floods in some regions of Guangxi.

A statement on the center's website urges officials in several provinces, including Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong, to prepare for "possible floods and geological hazards".

Guangxi flood control and drought relief headquarters said on Wednesday that, as of Tuesday, the death toll from the recent spell of bad weather had climbed to 10 in the province, with 15 missing, and direct economic losses of nearly 400 million yuan ($58.8 million). The rain had also damaged 61 roads, ruined 66 dams and destroyed 1,170 houses.