China Floods: Storms Leave Hundreds Trapped

At least 55 people have been killed and 1.5 million affected after major flooding in southern China.

State broadcaster CCTV said storms and torrential downpours hit Wuping County, in the province of Fujian, on Sunday, leaving 500 people trapped.

One resident told CCTV that houses began flooding as water levels rose to nearly two metres (3.28ft).

"The houses started flooding at around 8am and the water level rose very fast," she said.

"It happened so quickly that we couldn't bring anything."

Footage showed rescuers helping residents, including the elderly and small babies, out of their flooded homes.

State-run news agency Xinhua said nearly 400 people had been rescued and taken to safety in Longyang City, of which Wuping County belongs.

It added that storms in nearby Xiamen City have already resulted in the deaths of five people.

Floods ravage parts of southern China most summers, and killed almost 700 people in 2012 alone.