A cyclist makes his way along a flooded street in Shenzhen yesterday. The southern city had its strongest rainfall since 2008 with 2,000 cars submerged and bus services disrupted. (Xinhua)

At least three people died and thousands of residents had to be relocated after heavy rainfall hit regions in southern China, local authorities said yesterday.

Rain has been battering Hunan Province since Thursday, disrupting traffic, power and telecommunications, and raising water levels in major rivers and reservoirs, according to the provincial flood control headquarters.

A villager in Jinwutang Township was killed in a landslide.

As of 11am yesterday, the rain had affected 461,800 people in 131 townships and destroyed 1,400 housing units in the province.

Local governments relocated 50,400 people over safety concerns.

In neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, downpours left two people dead and affected nearly 200,000 residents, according to the regional department of civil affairs.

1.2 million affected by S China flashfloods

Authorities in southern China have evacuated 29,000 people from the provinces of Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi and Guizhou as well as from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, battered by continuous downpours.

Three people died. More than 1.2 million people have been affected by flashfloods and landslides caused by torrential rains that destroyed 1.500 homes and damaged 9.200 others. Vast areas of cropland have been flooded.

As of 5pm yesterday, heavy rain had toppled 522 houses and seriously damaged another 888 in the region. Direct economic losses were estimated at about 119 million yuan (US$19 million), the department said.

Local governments have relocated 5,000 residents to safe areas.

As of noon yesterday, power supplies had been restored after a rainstorm-triggered flash flood hit Fugong County in southwest China¡¯s Yunnan Province.

The rainstorm tore down 14 houses and two bridges, damaging flood-control dikes and inundating a hydropower generation plant.

Residents in areas at risk have been relocated.

The southern city of Shenzhen experienced its strongest rainfall since 2008 yesterday, with 2,000 cars submerged on the street and the operation of more than 5,000 buses suspended.

The city¡¯s weather bureau issued a red alert for heavy rain, the highest level of a four-tier alert system.

About 130 flights were canceled at the Shenzhen airport, while another 70 outbound flights had been delayed for more than four hours.

More rain is expected today, again raising the water levels of rivers, lakes and reservoirs, said Chen Lei, deputy head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Chen, also minister for water resources, ordered meteorological authorities to release timely warnings and promised subsidies for flood relief efforts.

Eight teams have been dispatched to affected regions to oversee relief work, he said.