At least 7.20 lakh people from 240 townships in central China's Hunan Province have been affected by the heavy rainstorms which have swept the province, officials said today.
Initial investigation showed that 465 homes in the province have been toppled and 1.49 lakh people were relocated as a result of the storms since yesterday, the provincial flood control headquarters said.
In Hunan's Fenghuang County, more than 1.20 people including tourists have been evacuated since yesterday night as record downpours hit the county, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Power supply in Fenghuang has been cut off and multiple temporary settlements set up in the county seat to cater for the evacuated people.
Several bridges on the Tuojiang River have been inundated or destroyed. Water has flowed into dozens of bars, restaurants and hotels. The water level is sufficient for boats to pass along several streets, the media report said.
The local hydrographical bureau issued a red alert, the highest in China. The water levels of three big reservoirs in the county have also surpassed warning levels by 0.61 to 2.04 meters.
Fenghuang County receives an average of 20,000 to 30,000 tourists a day. Several scenic spots have been temporarily closed for safety reasons.
Flood-triggered landslides blocked several highways in Hunan today. Heavy rain will continue to hit the province on tomorrow, the weather bureau said.
