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© The News International
The western part of the of Sichuan Basin and the northeastern part of the southwest China's Sichuan Province had been hit by a three-day continuous downpour.

Cities such as Bazhong and Guangyuan in northeastern Sichuan suffered most, with a precipitation over 300 millimeters at some areas during the new round of heavy rainfall.

The water level was recorded at 368.20 meters at a hydrometric station in Bazhong on Wednesday, 5.27 up from the alarm level.

Statistics of the Sichuan Provincial Command Center for Flood Control and Earthquake Relief show that 1.5 million people had been affected, with two dead and six missing, in 21 counties of cities of Guangyuan, Mianyan, Suining and Bazhong, by 20:00 on Wednesday.

More than 170,000 people had been evacuated and 10,000 houses were destroyed by torrential rain.

Mudslides triggered by the heavy rain had caused damages to a bridge on National Highway No. 212 and National Highway No. 317. Road traffic was suspended due to blocks on two provincial highways.

A male giant panda, aged about 10, was found drowned in a cornfield in Yingxiu Town Tuesday morning. It was believed to be swept into the Minjiang River by flood water and mudslide, said provincial forestry officials.

Heavy rain or rainstorm has been forecast for Thursday morning, in areas including cities of Dazhou, Bazhong, Nanchong and Guangan.