The huge Yangtze River flows, among other things, through Wuhan in Hubei Province, where the corona virus was first reported just before the New Year. The river's water levels have now reached the third highest level recorded so far in the multi-million city, and are expected to continue to rise during the week, state-controlled media reports.

Flooding has been a yearly problem in the country since ancient times, often along the Yangtze River. This year, sustained rain since late June has led to flooding in large areas, which has affected more than 37 million people. 28,000 homes have been destroyed so far.

Increased warning levels

33 rivers in the country have reached record high water levels, and warnings have been issued for 433 rivers, the water resource authority said on Monday.

As we enter the most important period to curb the floods, from late July to early August, the current development is bleak on Yangtze and Lake Tais, says Ye Jianchun at the authority.

President Xi Jinping urges the local authorities in the affected areas to organize rescue work and to move residents in vulnerable places.

Water up to the roof

Video features in state-controlled media show flooded cities where the water reaches the roof of one-story houses and residents are fetched from there by inflatable boats. Elsewhere, homes that were destroyed by landslides caused by the rain are visible.

In addition to Hubei, the provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan have been hit hard in central China. The same applies to Anhui, Zhejiang and Jiangsu in the country's eastern parts and the giant city of Chongqing in southwestern China, the authorities said.

More than 4,000 people died in 1998, when the worst flooding in recent decades occurred, mainly around the Yangtze River.