Heavy rain and flash floods in southwestern and central China this week killed at least 22 people, forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes and flooded cities and farmland, Chinese state media reported.

据中国官方媒体报道，中国西南部和中部地区本周遭遇强降雨和山洪暴发，已造成至少22人死亡，数万人被迫撤离家园，多个城市和大片农田被淹。

The storm — the most intense to hit China this year — began dumping rain in these areas on Friday, and up to 12 inches fell across seven provinces over about five days, state media reported. In Fangchenggang, a coastal city near Vietnam, total rainfall reached about 32 inches, according to Xinhua, China’s state news agency.

据官方媒体报道，这场今年以来袭击中国的最强风暴于上周五开始给这些地区带来强降雨，在约五天时间里，七个省份的累计降水量高达约300毫米。据官方通讯社新华社报道，在靠近越南的沿海城市防城港，累计降水量达到约825毫米。

The rainfall and flooding were especially severe in Hunan, a mountainous southern province where five people died and 11 others went missing, state media reported. The storm forced more than 31,000 evacuations, the provincial government said. The floods damaged roads, bridges and other properties, according to Xinhua.

此次降雨和洪灾在湖南尤为严重。湖南是中国南部一个多山省份，据官方媒体报道，已有五人死亡，另有11人失踪。湖南省政府表示，强降雨已迫使超过3.1万人疏散撤离。新华社称，洪水还损坏了道路、桥梁及其他设施。

The authorities on Wednesday activated a national disaster relief response for the flooding in Hunan, Xinhua reported.

据新华社报道，当局周三启动了针对湖南洪灾的国家级救灾应急响应。

The heavy rain caused floods in large parts of towns and cities in southwestern China. In some areas, people had to wade through the brown, knee-deep water that filled streets and parking lots, photos from state media showed.

强降雨导致中国西南部多个城镇发生洪灾。官方媒体发布的照片显示，在一些地区，人们不得不涉水穿过齐膝深的浑浊污水，街道和停车场已被淹没。

In Guangxi, a region bordering Vietnam, 10 people died when a vehicle plunged into a river, Xinhua reported. In Guizhou, a southwestern province, four people died and five others went missing, according to People’s Daily, a state newspaper. CCTV, a Chinese state broadcaster, said three died and four others were missing in Hubei, a central province.

新华社报道，在与越南接壤的广西，一辆车辆坠河，造成10人死亡。据《人民日报》报道，西南省份贵州有四人死亡、五人失联。中央电视台报道，中部省份湖北有三人死亡、四人失联。

Forecasters issued a flood warning on Tuesday that was expected to last into Wednesday in parts of southeastern China as the storm moved across the region.

随着降雨带继续横扫该地区，气象部门周二发布洪水预警，预计预警将持续至周三，覆盖中国东南部部分地区。

The China Meteorological Administration said on Wednesday that about eight more inches of rain could still fall in the southern regions, including in Hong Kong, raising the risk of more flooding in cities.

中国气象局周三表示，包括香港在内的南方地区可能还会有约200毫米的降雨，城市洪涝风险进一步上升。

China’s rainy season typically runs from May to October, though in southern China it begins early, usually from April to September.

中国雨季通常为5月至10月，南方地区开始得更早，通常从4月持续到9月。