Heavy rain hindered efforts by workers to repair reservoirs and place sandbags along breached riverbanks today as the death toll from China’s worst flooding in a decade climbed above 1,000.

Widespread flooding in southern China has caused 175 deaths, with 107 people missing and more storms expected, the government said today.

Drought is threatening drinking water for 14 million people in northern China, the government said today, prompting a call for authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure supplies.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from China’s south-east coast ahead of the expected arrival of Typhoon Haitang.