Heavy rain continues to rage in China

Chinese media reported today that heavy rains across the country have killed five more people and left half a million people displaced over the past few days unable to return home.

According to Xinhua, the Huai River water level - flowing through densely populated areas in central and eastern China, has peaked for the third time in the last 10 days.

Authorities are trying to transport more tents, food, coal and medicine to more than 9,000 villagers evacuated to temporary housing after their homes along the Huai River have been flooded since last week. A total of half a million people were displaced in Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces.

Five people have been killed by thunder and landslides in Sichuan province since yesterday, Xinhua said. The streets of at least four cities in this province are flooded. In Chongqing City, thunderstorms and heavy rain caused about 240 flights to be delayed today, leaving more than 5,000 passengers stranded.

The weather in the coming days in China is expected to be harsh.

The Yangtze River is also facing the risk of flooding in Sichuan, Chongqing and neighboring Guizhou and Hubei provinces, which are expected to be raining heavily in the next two days. In Xinjiang, pouring rain severed the key railway connecting the arid region to other provinces.

Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Hui Liangyu warned " the situation will be extremely harsh " with more storms in the summer.

Flooding, landslides and other disasters caused by storms have claimed 411 lives and left 105 people missing in China since the beginning of the year. Physical damage is estimated at 37.5 billion Yuan (4.9 billion USD).

Here are some pictures of floods in China:

Thanh Hao