Human hand

As floods damage dykes, sweeping towns and villages in its path, there is increasing suspicion that human factors are also to blame for the ostensible natural phenomenon.

Some have pointed to a dam breach in Jiangxi province, blaming it on inadequate maintenance of aging facilities. Others say property development on a crucial waterway may have caused the inundation of homes in Malong, Yunnan province.

The tides may ebb after the rain clouds disperse, but coping with the next crest and containing its damage will keep many regional governments busy throughout this summer.