BEIJING, June 9 -- Heavy rainfall has plagued eight provinces and one municipality in south China since Sunday, causing ten deaths with four missing, said the Ministry of Civil Affairs here Tuesday.

Downpour has caused floods, landslides and hail storms in Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou, said a ministry press release.

Among the victims, five drowned, two were struck by falling rocks and two were buried under landslides. The last was killed in the collapse of a building, according to the ministry.

The four missing persons were all reported in southwestern Guizhou Province.