Heavy rains leave 10 dead, millions of thousands displaced in China

Ten people have died in central China as torrential rains lashed Hunan province, forcing the evacuation of millions of thousands, state media reported.

The downpours, which began on June 1, have forced the evacuation of around 286,000 people, with more than 2,700 homes collapsed or seriously damaged, the official Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, 10 people were killed and three were missing, Hunan provincial official Li Dajian said, according to the agency.

"Heavy rains have caused the water levels of rivers and lakes to rise significantly," the provincial government said in a statement on Thursday.