Residents row boats in flooded streets in Pingyao Town of Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 18, 2008. More than 2,000 local residents have been evacuated from the flooded areas of Pingyao due to rising water level of Dongtiao Creek. Rainstorms and floods have hit the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since June 6.

A resident stands on the balcony of a flooded house in Pingyao Town of Hangzhou City, East China's Zhejiang Province, June 18, 2008. Rainstorms and floods have hit the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since June 6. [Xinhua] A resident stands on the balcony of a flooded house in Pingyao Town of Hangzhou City, East China's Zhejiang Province, June 18, 2008. Rainstorms and floods have hit the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since June 6. [Xinhua]

 

Death toll from flood rises to 23 in Guangdong

 

The death toll from floods and rainstorms in south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday rose to 23 from the previous 20, while 7.5 million people were affected.

 

The provincial headquarters of flood control said downpours and floods have ravaged 21 cities between May 25 and June 18, resulting in 5.28 billion yuan (US$765 million) worth of damages to infrastructure. Huizhou City was the worst hit with 1 billion yuan of loss.

 

Water levels in the swollen rivers of Beijiang and Xijiang remained dangerously high due to more rains and the pull of the moon.

 

A total of 116 reservoirs reported water levels higher than the danger lines, according to the headquarters.