The death toll as a result of heavy rain and flooding in southern China's Guangdong province rose sharply to 47 on Friday, according to state media.
With southern deluges looming as a heatwave sweeps north, China has endured a series of extreme weather conditions so far this summer.
Downpours in densely populated Guangdong this week caused landslides and flooding, with some areas suffering record flooding.
“Due to the severity of the disaster…the search and rescue of trapped people is difficult and time-consuming,” the state broadcaster reported. closed TV circuit saying.
More than 55,000 people were affected by the rains, he said, adding that more than 2,200 homes and almost 4,700 roads had collapsed.
The disaster also damaged hundreds of electrical installations and water pipes, as well as almost 7,000 hectares of crops, according to closed TV circuit.
The broadcaster said direct economic losses as a result of the floods were estimated at 5.85 billion yuan ($805.7 million).
Images by closed TV circuit Friday showed an entire town inundated with muddy water lapping at broken masonry and roofs missing tiles.
Trucks lined up along an embankment worked to channel floodwater away from the settlement and into a nearby reservoir.
Summer of extremes
State media reported this week that some areas had suffered “once-in-a-century floods… (or) the largest since historical records began.”
The central government has allocated 105 million yuan ($14.5 million) in emergency aid for flood-affected areas, state media said on Friday.
In addition to Guangdong, the provinces and regions of Guangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou have been affected.
While torrential rains have lashed the south, northern China has been sweating with temperatures well above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
Authorities in several provinces have issued heat warnings since early June, urging residents to limit sun exposure and stay hydrated.
