Torrential rains pounding southwestern China's Sichuan province have left at least 56 people dead and nearly 180 missing.

 

　　Over 240-thousand residents across the province have been forced from home.

 

　　Massive mudslides have hit Wenchuan County, the epicenter of the 2008 earthquake, sweeping bridges and destroying a cluster of villages.

 

　　Qipangou, a village located 2-kilommeters from Wenchuan is now completely covered in water and mud.

 

　　Cong Weina is a reporter with China Central Television.

 

　　"The mudslide went down the hill and poured into the Ming Jiang River at a speed of 5km per hour, destroying the entire village. So far, it is confirmed that three people were killed and another 12 are missing. The mudslide has affected at least 2000 households and over 2000 people have been evacuated."

 

　　The roads connecting Wenchuan and neighboring Dujiangyan have been blocked, hampering the rescue work.

 

　　Nonstop rainstorms which began from this Monday have triggered the worst flooding across the province in 50 years.

 

　　In Chengdu, the capital city, schools and kindergartens will be closed for three days as more rain is forecasted over the weekend.

 

　　The rainstorms also left at least 13 dead in neighboring Shaanxi province.