(Yicai) April 22 -- Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated after China’s southern province of Guangdong was hit by severe flooding, with the cities of Shaoguan and Qingyuan in the central and northern parts the worst affected.

The authorities have relocated 110,000 residents so far after torrential rain hit many parts of the province in recent days, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

Days of continuous heavy rainfall in the Beijiang River basin, located in the north of the Pearl River Basin, caused the river to rise rapidly.

The city of Yingde has also been badly affected. At the home of one resident, surnamed Wang, the waters rose as high as the second floor on April 20. About 10 local households were evacuated before the deluge, she told Yicai. As of April 21, 19,349 people in Yingde had been evacuated.

Fire and rescue authorities in the cities of Shenzhen, Foshan, and Zhongshan have sent hundreds of staff as well as drainage equipment, boats, fire trucks, and drones to Qingyuan, Yicai learned.

Torrential rain is set to continue in the province over the next three days, the authorities said. The Guangdong Provincial Disaster Reduction Committee has launched a provincial level IV disaster relief emergency response.

Editor: Tom Litting