Some of the worst flooding to hit southern China in decades continues to wreak havoc today. A flooded river breached a dyke in Jiangxi Province, forcing more than 40,000 people out of their homes. Heavy rains battered the region over the last week, and more is expected in the coming days.

The flooded Fu River in China’s Jiangxi Province burst through a protective embankment on Monday, as heavy rains battered much of the region.

Nearly 145,000 residents are under threat and 40,000 residents have been evacuated. Sixty thousand residents still remain trapped.

Heavy rain across much of southern China over the last week has killed at least 175 people and left 107 missing, as rivers broke their banks and landslides severed road and rail links.

The downpours have triggered flash floods, submerged crops, disrupted traffic and telecommunications, forcing the evacuation of more than 1.7 million people.

Many of these displaced people live on low-lying land next to rivers that has been cleared by building dykes.

When threatened by floods, they are often moved to higher ground nearby.

The worst hit were the provinces and regions of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi.

More downpours are expected in the region in the coming days.