Torrential rain in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River damaged thousands of houses and affected more than 235,000 people in Chongqing municipality. At least 20 local schools suspended classes for five days, and more than 83,000 residents were forced to evacuate on 20 September.

The meteorological authorities forecast that rain would continue to fall in the country’s southwest region until 23 September. Southern parts of Sichuan province and western and northern parts of Yunnan province would experience particularly heavy rain, the National Meteorological Centre said on its website.