KUNMING, Sept. 18-- The death toll from rain-triggered flooding in southwest China's Yunnan Province has risen to seven, while eight others remain missing, according to local authorities.

The bodies of two more victims were found on Thursday afternoon, after a downpour pounded Huaping County from Tuesday night into the early hours of Wednesday, said the county government in a statement on Friday.

Fifteen people were injured in the disaster, it said previously.

The storm caused the local Liyu River to break its banks, inundating several residential communities. The houses of 72 rural families collapsed and 244 others were damaged.

The search for the missing villagers continues.