Torrential rains have flooded cities and villages in southwestern China’s Sichuan province, killing eight people while 18 others are still missing.
564,000 people have been affected in the rainstorm which began on Sunday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
About 12,500 people were relocated, Xinhua said.
Power lines and roads were damaged and 3,800 houses collapsed.
The local government has ordered police, soldiers and firemen to join the search and rescue effort.
The rainstorm will begin to slacken on Wednesday although heavy rainfalls are expected to continue in four cities and the West Sichuan Plateau, according to local weather authorities.
Torrential rains will hit eastern and southern China in the coming two days, affecting Anhui, Jiangsu, southeastern Tibet, western Sichuan and Yunnan, said the Central Weather Bureau.
