Sana'a, Yemen - At least nine people were killed and dozens were missing after floods from heavy rains hit eastern Yemen, officials said on Friday.

The officials told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that nearly 400 homes were destroyed in the south-eastern province of Hadhramout, some 900 kilometres from the capital Sana'a.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh declared Hadhramout a disaster zone.

Governor Salem al-Khanbashi told the state radio that fatalities were reported from different areas of Hadhramout, but accurate figures could not be gathered owing to the difficulties of reaching all the affected areas.

Saleh set up a crisis committee to coordinate rescue and relief efforts, the official Saba news agency reported. (dpa)