150,000 people evacuated in S China downpour

HAIKOU -  Some 150,000 people have been evacuated after heavy rainfall has inundated villages and townships in south China's Hainan Province since Friday, local authorities said on Sunday.

Residents carry a plastic box with their belongings as they wade through a flooded street in Wanning city, South China’s Hainan province, Dec 15. Strong rains hit the city starting Friday night, with average rainfall of more than 300 ml reported across eight towns from 8am on Dec 14 to 7am on Dec 15. As many as 80,000 people have been evacuated in the city. [Photo/Xinhua]

Precipitation has reached 510 mm in parts of Wanning City in Hainan, and an average of 300 mm in eight townships around the city since Friday.

Authorities have dispatched speedboats to evacuate local residents from flooded areas.

Hainan Meteorological Service said the rain is expected to last through Monday in the east of the province. It said the weather poses challenges for rescue work and warned of floods and landslides in rain-battered areas.