Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed at least 26 people and left 17 missing in southwest China's Sichuan Province since Monday night, the local government said yesterday.

The disaster has affected 8.19 million people in 43 cites and counties across the province, it said.

So far, 320,000 people have been evacuated to safe places and the rescue and relief work are still underway.

The flood also destroyed 20,000 houses. Meanwhile, traffic was cut on 76 highways and 441 km of electricity supply lines were damaged.

The total economic loss is estimated at three billion yuan (US$395 million).