At least 53 people have been killed and 18 others remain missing as torrential rains continue to batter northwest China's Gansu Province. The extreme weather has been pounding the region since last Thursday.

Over 400 thousand people have been affected and nearly 150 thousand were forced to leave their homes. There is still a shortage of tents and temporary houses for schools and medical clinics. However, things are beginning to return to normal. Telephone lines in the worst-hit area are back up and running and a number of schools have also been able to reopen.

The central government has allocated 20 million yuan to Gansu for flood-control costs. Direct economic losses in the province are expected to surpass 1.6 billion yuan.