China's National Meteorological Center forecast Thursday that heavy rains would continue during the next 24 hours in northeast China, a region already soaked following weeks of torrential rains.

The observatory continued to issue an orange rain alert, the second most serious level, on Thursday, warning that rainstorms would hit most parts of the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Helongjiang over the next 24 hours, adding pressure to the country's efforts to combat floods.

Rain-triggered floods have left 1,072 people dead and 619 others missing this year in China. Economic losses were estimated at 210 billion yuan ($31.34 billion), Shu Qingpeng, deputy director of the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the observatory forecast that heat would continue in south China during the next 24 hours.

Temperatures are likely to hit 35 to 38 degrees Celsius in southeast Shaanxi Province, some parts of Sichuan and Guizhou provinces and areas along the Huaihe River. Also, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces may see maximum temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius within the next 24 hours.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2010)