Flood misery hits millions

Heavy rains pounded the stricken province over the weekend and the level of a river that passes through Lanxi city has risen sharply.

Troops have been mobilised to Zhejiang, in the Yangtze delta, to assist mass evacuations and help distribute food.

More than two million people have been displaced or otherwise affected in Zhejiang in the worst seasonal flooding for decades that is also pushing up food prices, state media reported.

Torrential rains have left huge areas of the relatively wealthy province under water.

Direct financial damage was estimated at almost five billion yuan (£477m). More than 180 people are dead or missing.