国内英语新闻:Heavy rains expected to end in S China, tough work continues

BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rainfalls have ended in South China's flood-battered Provinces and water levels of major rivers in Jiangxi and Hunan provinces are receding, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH) Sunday.

However, flood prevention work must not slow down since risks remain, said the SFDH.

Also, water levels in Jiangxi Province's Ganjiang River and Poyang Lake remain higher than normal warning levels and water in Hunan Province's Dongting Lake is still rising.

Persistent heavy rains that have devastated parts of south China had, by Saturday, left 379 dead, and 141 missing, and resulted in economic losses estimated at 82.4 billion yuan, the SFDH said.

The torrential rains and ensuing floods have affected 68.7 million people in 22 provincial-level regions along with 4.36 million hectares of farmland, said the headquarters.