BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - Landslides caused by heavy rains in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan have killed seven people and four others are missing, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

Torrential rains along with hail on Sunday evening triggered landslides in several rural counties in the southwestern part of the province, Xinhua said.

Mud and rocks covered roads, destroyed houses and forced about 300 residents to evacuate, the agency said.

After suffering an extended drought, Sichuan has been hit by several severe storms during the last two months.

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