Two rounds of severe rain have killed 11 people and injured 23 others in northwest China's Shaanxi Province since last Wednesday, local authorities said Tuesday. Over 569,100 people have been affected by the rain, Xinhua quoted the provincial government as saying. An initial investigation showed that the rain has resulted in direct economic losses of 1.75 billion yuan (about 285.56 million U.S. dollars). Nine people died and 11 others were injured in the city of Yan'an, where heavy rain has battered most parts of the city since Sunday night. The downpours have caused mudslides that have destroyed 939 homes and damaged 1,106 others. Torrential rain has also raised water levels on local rivers and reservoirs, posing a threat to nearby residents. A new round of heavy rain will batter Shaanxi on Thursday and Friday, the provincial meteorological bureau said.
