Deadly rains that pummelled Hebei province have killed 29 people and left another 16 missing as of Thursday, with authorities warning that reconstruction could take as long as two years.

Hebei experienced the worst floods in history earlier this month after Typhoon Doksuri battered northern China, causing around 95.8 billion yuan of direct economic losses in the province alone.

The downpour affected almost 3.9 million people, with over 40,000 homes destroyed and 155,500 houses severely damaged, officials said.

Xinhua news agency said the province will make sure affected residents can move back to their homes before this winter, and students are able to return to school as scheduled.

The finance and emergency management ministry has so far earmarked 1.46 billion yuan to support disaster relief work in regions worst hit by the storm. (Xinhua/Reuters)