Serious rainstorms have left 16 people dead and 19 missing since Sunday in China, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs here on Wednesday. 本周三民政部最新消息：自上周日起，中国大部分地区的暴雨天气已造成 16人死亡， 19人受伤。
The disasters have affected 1.67 million people in 15 provincial divisions in China as of 9 am on Wednesday, according to a ministry statement. 民政部在声明中称，截止至本周三上午九点为止，中国有 15个省市自治区受到洪灾影响，受灾人数已达 167万人。
Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and hail has triggered serious floods and landslides in these areas, the statement said. 声明中还说，在这些区域，强降雨天气伴随雷电和冰雹，触发了严重洪水和泥石流等自然灾害。
The central government has sent out expert teams to supervise rescue and relief work in the worst-hit provinces such as Southwest China's Sichuan while relief material has been rushed to the affected areas. 中央政府已派专家小组前往西南部四川省等受灾严重地区，监督指导抢险救灾工作；并迅速向灾区发放救援物资。
