Torrential rains in southern China have put a strain on the country's flood defences. Water levels on some of the country's major rivers continue to rise and the meterological office has just issued a warning of a typhoon heading towards China's eastern coast.
Accoring to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, water levels on the central and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will continue to rise in the next three to five days. Water levels at Taihu, Dongting and Poyang lakes will also exceed safe levels.
China is expecting its first major typhoon this year, due to reach the country's east coast in around four days. Currently more than 11 hundred districts have been flooded, with at least 186 people killed and 45 still missing. Flooding and torrential rain has affected more than 32 million people, resulting in direct economic losses of over 50 billion Yuan.
