BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Floods in southern China have killed 57 people and forced more than a million people from their homes, Chinese state-media reported Monday.

 

Cars run on a flooded road Sunday in Chongqing Municipality, China.

 

Torrential rains are expected to pound the region for another 10 days raising water levels further, according to the official news agency Xinhua.

 

Around 1.3 million people have so far been displaced across an area that includes the earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province.

 

The worst-hit province was Guangdong, where 20 people died and eight were missing, with nearly 5.8 million people in 17 cities affected, Xinhua said.

 

The Associated Press reported that streets and houses along the Xijiang River in Guangdong were submerged in the worst flooding to hit the Pearl River Delta region in 50 years.

 

"A major flood is feared if rain continues," Huang Boqing, deputy director of the Guangdong flood control and drought relief headquarters, told the official China Daily newspaper. Video Watch people being rescued from the floodwaters »

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In total, the floods have affected aproximately 18 million people and caused economic losses of $1.5 billion, according to reports.

 

The authorities estimate that the floods have destroyed 45,000 houses, damaged 140,000 more and ruined crops on 920,000 acres.

 

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It is a very unlucky year for China. :mellow: They had a chance to be the center of attention with Olympics but they have to get through too many unlucky events. First the earthquake and now this... I am sure Olympics won't have such a big crowd this year because of obvious reasons ;)

awww not having a good year at all are they! :(