Flooding, heavy rainfall distress over 1 million people in China

Street lamps are seen among floodwaters next to partially submerged buildings by an over flowing river at the ancient town as heavy rainfall hits Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014.Hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate with over 1 million people in total affected in China as heavy rainstorms batter Hunan and Guizhou provinces, with reports of several deaths and mass destruction.

Some 720,000 people from 240 townships in Hunan are now affected, the provincial flood control headquarters said on Tuesday, Xinhua reports. At least 460 homes have been destroyed and 149,400 residents have been relocated.

The ancient town of Fenghang was flooded with more than 120,000 locals and tourists evacuated since Monday night. Multiple temporary settlements have been set up to cater for the displaced people. Power supply in the region has also been cut off, prompting the local hydrographical bureau to issue a red alert, at 10:10 am local time.

© Reuters/China Daily
Rescuers evacuate residents and tourists with a boat on a flooded street of the ancient town as heavy rainfall hit Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014.

© Reuters/China Daily
A police officer (L) helps an elderly woman evacuate from a flooded street of the ancient town as heavy rainfall hits Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014.

© Reuters/China Daily
A street lamp is seen in floodwaters in front of partially submerged buildings by an overflowing river at the ancient town as heavy rainfall hits Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014.

© AFP
A man makes his way through a flooded area in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, on July 15, 2014.

© AFP
A woman looks on at a flooded area in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, on July 15, 2014.

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