Rainstorms have pounded the city of Yichang, Hubei Province,?over the past two days, affecting more than 100,000 people and forcing 1,000 to be evacuated from low-lying areas, local authorities said Tuesday.

The downpours have also inundated almost 15,000 hectares of cropland and damaged more than 300 houses, a spokesman with the Yichang Municipal Flood Control Office said.

Direct economic losses amounted to 58 million yuan (9 million U.S. dollars), the spokesman said, adding that local authorities have launched a disaster relief operation.