A new round of rains started to pound the mudslide-flattened Chinese town of Zhouqu Monday night, which has increased the possibilities of new mudslides occurring.

The weather bureau in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Gansu Province, which administers Zhouqu County, issued a rainstorm warning Monday night, warning about the likelihood of new geological disasters.

Rains started pounding Zhouqu at around 10 p.m., which, according to Gansu's provincial weather bureau, could last for five days and precipitation in some regions may reach 60 to 80 mm.

The massive landslide on August 8 killed 1,254 people as of 4 p.m.Monday, with 490 still missing.

Meanwhile, rescue headquarters in Zhouqu has started implementing a disaster prevention contingency plan, which was drawn up on August 11.

The plan asks rescue teams and residents alike to move out of mudslide-prone areas if heavy rainfalls pelt the region.

According to the plan, tents built in these areas should be removed immediately. Also, cars are not allowed to park in these areas.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2010)