STORY: China's Guangdong province has been hit by severe floods following record-breaking rains -
Sparking fears about the region's defenses against bigger deluges induced by extreme weather.
The area, situated in the densely populated Pearl River Delta, is prone to summer floods.
And has previously put in place strong defenses to limit the fallout.
But since Thursday (April 18) the region has been battered by abnormally heavy, sustained and widespread rainfall, bringing the wet season earlier than expected.
Rescuers raced to save the many people trapped by flood-waters.
In some regions houses have been submerged up to their upper floors.
Tens of thousands have been evacuated.
Huang Jinrong is a farmer in the region:
"I used to plant rice here, but now it's all flooded, flooded beyond repair."
The state-owned news agency Xinhua reported some fatalities and a number of people missing.
China's weather has become increasingly more intense and unpredictable - which scientists say is due to global warming.
Many rivers remained swollen on Monday, at levels above safety thresholds. Rains are expected to affect Guangdong for the rest of April.
