Heavy rain and flooding killed 18 people and injured 39 others in Sichuan Province, southwest China on Monday, 11 others remain missing, according to Chinanews.com.cn.

According to a report of the office's Panzhihua City branch, Miyi, a mountainous area of the city, Sichuan Province, was hit by rainstorms between 9:50 p.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday, in which 177mm of rain fell and caused several flash floods.

The office said Sichuan's Vice Governor Zhang Zuoha was leading a working group to Miyi to help with the relief operation.

The direct economic loss was estimated at 17.7 million yuan ($2.6 million).

China