Flooding kills more than 180 people in central and southern China

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Media caption,

Rescuers battled to reach people trapped by floods in their homes

More than 180 people have been killed in flooding along the Yangtze River in China following torrential rain, officials say.

Between 10cm and 50cm of rain has fallen in seven provinces, and storms stretching 1,600km (1,000 miles) are sweeping across central and southern China.

At least 45 people are missing and 33 million are affected, officials say.

The rain has also washed away railway lines and shut down road networks.

The dead included 23 people who were killed in a mudslide in Guizhou Province and eight who died in the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province when a section of a wall collapsed, state media said.

Heavy rain is forecast to continue until Wednesday across parts of southern and western China, the South China Morning Post, external reported.

A stadium is flooded after heavy rainfall in Ezhou, Hubei ProvinceImage source, Reuters
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Rainwater left a stadium flooded in Ezhou, Hubei province

Flooding in WuhanImage source, Getty Images
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Villages near Wuhan in Hubei Province were submerged

Villager swimming in floodwater in WuhanImage source, Getty Images
policemen stand in line to block flood in NanjingImage source, Reuters
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Police attempt to block floodwaters in Nanjing

flooding in Guizhou provinceImage source, Getty Images
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Much of the city of Bijie in Guizhou Province was left underwater

Flooding in Bijia, Guizhou ProvinceImage source, Getty Images
Jiangxi residents on a scooter in floodwaterImage source, AP
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Large areas of Jiangxi Province were also affected