At least 16 people were killed and six others are still missing after a heavy rainstorm lashed the county of Mianning in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the information office of the Mianning county government said Thursday evening. 

Torrential rains hit the county on June 26 and 5,660 people are in temporary settlements in the county as of Tuesday, the office said. 

Direct economic loss caused by the rainstorm amounted to 738 million yuan (about 104 million US dollars), the office noted, adding that search and rescue works are continuing.  

Carrying out flood disaster rescue work while preventing COVID-19 infections is proving to be one of the biggest challenges for local authorities in Mianning County.

According to Yihai Town's Party secretary Lu Zhen, pressure is mounting due to the high and concentrated number of people living at temporary shelters.