中国南部多地暴雨21人死亡4人失踪

中国南部多地暴雨21人死亡4人失踪

At least 21 people have died and four are reported missing after a weekend of heavy rainfall in south China. This is according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on Tuesday.

A child walks in a heavy rain in Foshan City, south China's Guangdong Province,

March 31, 2014. Rain and hailstorms since Sunday have brought flight delays to

south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Yin Hong)

Over one million people have been affected in six provinces including Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Guizhou and Chongqing. The strongest rainfall so far this year has been accompanied by hailstorms, with precipitation reaching as much as 300 milimeters in one day in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou’s waterlogged main street in the middle of Monday morning’s rush hour. The rain couldn’t have hit at a worse time.

"I am late by half an hour because of the rain. The bus can’t move, during the morning commute.” A Guangzhou commuter said.

Waterlogging increasing the danger on the highway. And with the water level one meter high in some places, it wasn’t unusual for cars to break down. Warnings for drivers became all the more necessary in these conditions.

In Zhongshan city, civil service workers have been working 24 hours a day to remove the blockages in drains. Dozens of pumping machines have been deployed.

"You get wet working in the rain. Most of the drains are blocked because of leaves.” Civil service worker in Zhongshan, Guangdong said.

The flooding season in south China has this time come ahead of time.

"The flooding season has come one week earlier than the regular date compared to previous years. South China will see frequent rain and storm in the next few days.” Zhang Fanghua, forecaster with central Meteorological station said.

But South China is also facing hailstorms. Some hail stones reaching a diameter of 5 centimeters destroying cars.

A large number of flights in the city of Shenzhen were delayed on Monday, stranding thousands of passengers. Weather authorities say heavy rainfall, with hailstorms, will continue in the next few days in South China.