China's related provinces should guard against mudslides and other disasters as heavy rain is forecast to hit China in the coming four days, said the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Wednesday.

The rain will hit eastern northwest China, Sichuan basin, northern China and northeastern China, said a notice issued by the headquarters.

The areas, especially Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan and Chongqing Municipality, should take more measures to guard against rain-triggered disasters, including mountainous flooding, landslides and mud-rock flows, said the notice.

The mudslide-hit Gansu and Sichuan provinces should increase their efforts to fight further possible disasters while carrying out relief work in the mudslide-hit areas in Zhouqu and Wenchuan.

The death toll from the mudslides in Zhouqu County in Gansu rose to 1,287 as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, with 457 still missing, local disaster relief headquarters said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2010)