Firefighters fight against the flood in Chaohu city, Anhui province on July 2, 2016. Average rainfall exceeds 270 mm in Chaohu city and it exceeds 300 mm in certain counties in Anhui province due to the flood triggered by a heavy storm since June 30, 2016. Thirty-five reservoirs overflowed in Chaohu city. All government officials canceled their holidays and joined the flood relief efforts during the weekend. [Photo by Li Tinghe and Ma Fengcheng/chinadaily.com.cn]

As of 9 am, July 2, 2016, the heavy rainfall has affected 1.26 million residents in six cities including Liu'an, Hefei, and Anqing since June 26, 2016, in East China's Anhui province.

Around 46,000 residents have been evacuated and relocated on an emergency basis.

The heavy storm hit 114,000 hectares of crops and collapsed 596 houses and caused a direct economic loss of 1.11 billion yuan ($166 million), according to preliminary statistics.

Highlights of rainstorms across China

* China on orange alert for rainstorms

* Death toll from SW China landslide rises to 20

* 10,000 villagers evacuated as floods hit Yangtze River reaches

* Massive landslide kills 21 in SW China

* Trains delayed

*Eight dead after rain topples wall in central China