Flood death toll in China reaches 54 with 15,000 homes destroyed and 8 million affected

Torrential rain swept across Guizhou province in southern China on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning

    

The death toll from devastating floods across southern China has risen to at least 54 people, as torrential rain continues to fall.

Two people were killed on Tuesday night after a van plunged into a river as a rainstorm battered Guizhou.

At least 15,000 homes have been destroyed and more than 250,000 moved to temporary accommodation after two weeks of heavy downpours across a number of provinces.

At least two people were killed as a bridge collapsed and major roads were blocked by six feet of water

    

Nearly 8 million people across southern China have been affected by the floods so far.

Official figures released by the government at the end of last week said that 35 people were confirmed dead and another 13 missing, although the death toll is believed to have risen over the weekend.

Two schoolchildren were among those who died after an overloaded bus plunged into a pond.

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Rescue teams began to evacuate residents in Leishan county in the early hours of Wednesday morning

    

At least 10,000 homes have been damaged and more than 2,000 in Guanxi province last week.

On Tuesday night thousands of homes in Leishan County in Guizhou were affected by a power outage and a cut to water supplies, reported People's Daily Online.

Major roads were completely blocked and a bridge collapsed as water levels rose to six feet.

Torrential rain has battered a number of provinces in southern China over the past two weeks. Official figures released on Friday said that 35 people were confirmed dead and another 13 missing

    

Major damage has been done across cities in Guizhou (pictured), Fuijan, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangong

    

Rescue workers started to evacuate residents in the county early on Wednesday morning, although the majority have been able to move back after water levels were brought under control.

The floods have hit the southern provinces of Guizhou, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangdong over the past two weeks.

Guizhou is one of the worst affected areas with 11 people dead and 8 missing, according to officials last week.

Nearly 60,000 people are believed to have been affected in the province, causing an economic loss of 98 million yuan (£10 million).

More than 10,000 homes have been damaged and another 2,000 collapsed following the floods

    

Guizhou is one of the worst affected areas with 11 people dead and 8 missing according to officials last week

    

More than 250,000 people across southern China have been evacuated and moved into temporary shelter

    

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