Landslides, lightning strikes, fast-running torrents and building collapses claimed the lives in Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality, Xinhua news agency said.

Twelve people were killed when mud and rocks crashed into a village in western Sichuan, while nine died when a landslide knocked a bus off a highway.

Other victims included seven children killed when lightning struck their Chongqing schoolroom and a man buried by his collapsing home.

Xinhua said Chongqing was hit by a 32-hour downpour on Thursday and Friday, forcing the evacuation of 112,300 people and causing direct economic losses of about 573 million yuan (73.5 million dollars).