China has raised its alert level after a new round of heavy rain battered several provinces in the south, causing more deaths and triggering floods and landslides. The disaster has forced over 55,000 people to evacuate their homes.

The torrential rain began to lash Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Anhui provinces on Monday evening and Zhejiang Province on Tuesday morning. The rain is forecast to last until Friday in some regions.

The water level of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtzi River has risen substantially, making local authorities order the evacuation of downstream residents. The central government has dispatched 150 million yuan to help with relief efforts.