China hit by floods and landslides, 88 dead, thousands evacuated

At least 88 people have died as southern parts of China goes virtually underwater due to continued heavy rainfall resulting in major landslides and damage to infrastructure.

According to the country's civil affairs ministry, 48 people are still missing in eight provinces and regions in southern China. Authorities said residents of areas near riverbanks and other low-lying areas will have to be evacuated as water levels in major rivers continue to rise due to continued torrential rains. Yahoo news reports:

Authorities have raised the level of their emergency response as rescue and flood-prevention work continues, the ministry said.

The National Meteorological Centre warned on Saturday of more rainstorms to come, a day after it issued an orange storm alert -- just one level lower than the nation's most serious red alert.

"There will be heavy rain over the next three days, and flood-control work will face enormous challenges," it said in a statement, adding that some of the rainfall in the south was up to three times greater than normal years.

Damage to infrastructure and farms brought about by heavy rains and flooding have reached $1.6 billion.