Nearly four million people were evacuated in eastern China as the rain storm battered many countries, causing the Tang and other rivers to swell, state media reported Wednesday.
China has experienced extreme weather in recent months, from heavy rains to heat waves.
It is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, which scientists say is driving climate change and making extreme weather events more frequent and intense.
The typhoon affected 991,000 residents of Anhui province and forced 242,000 to evacuate as of Tuesday afternoon, Xinhua news agency reported.
“As of 4 pm Tuesday, rainstorms wreaked havoc in 36 counties and districts in seven provinces of Anhui province,” Xinhua reported, citing the provincial emergency management department.
Water levels in the Anhui section of China’s longest river, the Tangzang, are said to be above the warning mark and continue to rise.
Heavy rain has raised the water level in 20 more rivers and six lakes above the warning level in the province.
Footage from state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday showed a large section of concrete being lifted to cover the statue in Wuhu, which is usually about 12 meters above the water line.
In the photo, volunteers in red jackets and umbrellas patrol the river bank, holding bright red life packs and rescue equipment on the beach.
More than 100 millimeters of rain was recorded at hundreds of weather stations in Anhui by 5pm on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.
About 266 millimeters was recorded in Hexi County, near the provincial capital Hefei.
Tens of thousands of workers have been deployed to monitor dams and dyes throughout the Tang Dynasty in Anhui, Xinhua news agency reported.
The provincial weather agency predicted more rain in the Anhui region from Wednesday to Sunday and warned of a “geological disaster” in the southern region.
Heavy rains have caused deadly disasters in southern China in recent months.
A mountain flood in central Hunan killed five people last month, state media reported, while a landslide in the same province killed eight. In June, heavy rains and floods in Guangdong province killed 38 people.
