WUHAN, May 15 -- Downpours in central China's Hubei Province since Thursday have left at least two people dead and one missing, local authorities said on Friday.

Two villagers were killed in heavy rains and another was washed away by floods, Hubei Provincial Department of Civil Affairs said.

The department estimated that about 1.4 million people in 24 counties were affected by the downpours.

Local authorities in those counties are evacuating people, rolling out funds and offering supplies.