Downpours deal out devastation

The torrential rains that have been pounding South China since the start of May have affected millions of lives and disrupted traffic.

The rain and hail has hit areas in Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and the city of Chongqing, causing floods, power cuts and landslides.

At least 46 people have been killed and tens of thousands evacuated.

The National Meteorological Center has warned of a high risk of geological disasters in Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangxi, suggesting the people there take precautions against possible mountain torrents, mud-rock flows and landslides.

On May 10, traffic on major roads in Guangzhou was brought to a standstill as heavy downpours lashed the Guangdong capital.

Changban Station, which lies on the city's Metro Line 6, was flooded and passengers had to wade to the platform. Other stations were also flooded.

Some residents have blamed the floods on poor drainage systems, saying they are unable to meet the growing demands of the city.

Residents who had been trapped by floods are sent to a safe zone on May 5 after violent weather, including a 10-minute tornado, hit Dao county, Hunan province. Pan Lin / For China Daily

Rescue workers use a tracker dog to search for survivors of a landslide in Sanming, Fujian province, on May 8. Zhang Guojun / Xinhua

Vehicles were submerged in flood water in Nanping, Fujian province, on May 8. Chen Baicai / Xinhua

A thousand-year-old banyan tree was destroyed in a rainstorm in Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on May 9. Lu Boan / Xinhua

Residents fish in a flooded street in Yongzhou, Hunan province, on May 8. Provided to China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 05/13/2016 page4)