Heavy rain and ensuing disasters have affected around 42,000 people in Hubei Province since Monday, according to local authorities Tuesday.

A highway collapses in Xingshan county after mudslides triggered by heavy downpours hit Hubei on Monday morning. [Xinhua]?

Altogether 14 counties and townships in western Hubei have been hit by the downpours, said the provincial flood control and drought relief office.

The rain has triggered landslides and floods in Xingshan County, where one person was killed when a house collapsed, while another was missing.

The disasters also toppled 294 houses, damaged 15.5 kilometers of roads, and inflicted a direct economic loss of 59 million yuan.

But in some drought-stricken parts of southern China, the rain has brought much needed relief.

The National Meteorological Center said that heavy rains will sweep the country's southwestern and southern areas over the next three days.

Meteorologists warned people to watch out for lightening strikes and rain-triggered geographical disasters.