Severe flooding that hit southern China earlier this week could expand to other provinces with the arrival of Super Typhoon Bavi at the weekend.
Towns and villages in Hengzhou, the epicentre of the floods in Guangxi province, were inundated with water on Monday after dams at local reservoirs failed amid record-breaking rainfall.
At least six people died, with 375,000 others affected, officials said. The number killed is expected to rise.
"At least a thousand people are stranded in the mountains and it's dark all around and [we need] urgent rescue," a call for help posted on Chinese social media on Tuesday said.
Floodwaters carrying large amounts of mud and silt surged downstream after a medium-sized reservoir failed, national broadcaster CCTV said.
It said floodwaters reached the second floor of some houses, trapping villagers on rooftops.
At least five dead and 12 more trapped after China landslide
Elsewhere, in central China, tornadoes and storms killed at least 11 and injured hundreds.
Thunderstorms battered parts of Hubei province's eastern region on Monday night, injuring more than 330 people and leading to the collapse of over 20 houses, with 4,800 damaged, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
It said a rare EF2 tornado swept through the city of Huanggang, where winds lifted trucks and displaced them as much as 30m (98ft) away.
Read more from Sky News:
Police hunt man suspected of murdering his wife and daughters
Murder investigation launched after teenager's death
Six typhoons expected
China's National Climate Centre expects up to six typhoons to form in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea in July - more than the average of 3.8.
Up to three of those could make landfall, above the average of 1.8. It said the intensity of the cyclones will also be stronger.
Super typhoon approaches
The country is now bracing for Super Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to hit on Saturday.
The storm, measuring more than 1,000km (621 miles) in diameter, briefly made landfall on Monday over the US island of Rota in the Western Pacific with winds in excess of 180mph.
Scientists have warned that climate change is increasingly exposing China to destructive weather events.
This year is a particular concern because of the expected emergence of the El Nino weather pattern, which could increase temperatures and fuel more intense typhoons.
(c) Sky News 2026: China braces for Super Typhoon Bavi after severe flooding and thunderstorms
Police release picture of mother and two children found dead in home - as father suspected of killing them 'on the run'
Met Police officer who shot Chris Kaba in south London unlikely to face further action
History man! British wildcard Arthur Fery beats Italy's Cobolli to reach Wimbledon semis
Neo-Nazi who had 'kill list' of customers and colleagues at Tesco jailed
Speeding drink-driver jailed for killing teenager who texted 'I may not survive' minutes before Perthshire crash
Ten children among at least 13 killed in separate Bangladesh landslides
Staff at 'thousands of charities' threatened and intimidated for 'doing their jobs'
Murder investigation under way after teenager 'stabbed' in Northampton
