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CHONGQING - Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality saw this year's first round of rainstorms from Friday.

So far, heavy rain has left nearly 80,000 people from nine districts and counties affected.

A total of 500 local residents were relocated to safety, with the storm having caused direct economic losses of 52 million yuan (7.5 million U.S. dollars), according to the municipal civil affairs department Tuesday.

A number of rivers in northeast Chongqing have swollen as a result of the rainstorms.

Rescuers have been sent to affected areas to help with disaster relief work.