Torrential rains since Thursday caused swelling of local rivers and led to flood which inundated part of the urban zones of Chongzuo City in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with more than 13,000 people affected.

Seven of the eight streets in the old city zones were flooded with water level as high as five meters. Most of the first and second floors of residential buildings were also inundated, according to Chongzuo City Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

The water level of the major Zuojiang River in Chongzuo was 107.52 meters. That's more than 6.32 meters higher than the danger level.

A Xinhua reporter on the scene said people were floating in tires and large buckets in Lijiang Road. Plastic bottles, bags and garbage were seen floating in the 3-meter-deep water. Shops were closed along the street.

The first floor of the municipal hospital out-patient building was submerged. Several boats were transferring medical staff and patients to the emergency care building and in-patient building, which were safe at the moment.

More than 200 soldiers and 300 militia rescued more than 1,200 residents using boats on Sunday, said Li Yatong, deputy chief of general staff of Guangxi Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2008)