BEIJING, June 12 (UPI) -- The number of deaths blamed on heavy rains in southern China swelled to 94 Sunday as rescue teams headed to flood-ravaged areas to begin relief efforts.

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said heavy rains in 13 southern provinces claimed at least 94 lives and 78 people were missing. In all, about 8.5 million Chinese have been affected by rains and floods, Xinhua reported Sunday. Damage estimates are close to $1 billion, officials said.


Hunan and Hubei provinces were hardest hit and a rescue team was headed to the area to direct flood relief efforts, officials said.

The China Meteorological Administration said moderate rains or thundershowers will continue Sunday evening in most regions of China, with torrential rains in the southern parts of the Yangtze and in the northern regions in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The rain will continue through Monday, when the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will be swamped. The CMA said Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces would experience torrential rains accompanied by strong gales and thunderstorms.

"This round of heavy rainfalls will last for quite some time, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides in drought-hit regions," the CMA said.