A new wave of downpours over the weekend has killed at least nine people in central and southwest China, a region already battered by rainstorms last month, state media said.

Worst hit was the central province of Hubei where seven people were swept away by flash floods triggered by torrential rains since Friday, the People?s Daily said.

More rainstorms were expected to hit parts of Hubei and Sichuan, both along the Yangtze, China?s longest river, on Monday and Tuesday, the National Meteorological Centre forecast on its Web site (www.nmc.gov.cn).

The flood season in southern China, usually from May to September, is notoriously deadly. The country?s southeastern provinces expect more damage during the typhoon and tropical storm season that extends through to October.