China: floods force evacuation of half a million

China has raised its disaster alert to the highest level after devastating floods caused the evacuation of more than half a million people in central and southern provinces.

The official China Daily reported that more than 555,000 people have been forced to evacuate after terrible flooding and mudslides in the Yangtze River basin.  Authorities have sent disaster relief teams Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.

China raised its alert level to four, its highest, Thursday as the government worked to cope with what has been called the worst flooding in some areas since 1955, Reuters reports.

The flooding since Monday has left 19 dead and seven missing.

(From GlobalPost in China: South China Sea: China vs. Vietnam) 

China's flooding over the past month has left 170 people dead or missing, the Associated Press reports.

Two dikes also breached Thursday, flooding two towns and 21 villages, Reuters states.

Authorities warned there is likely to be more damage and destruction over the next few days as the downpours are not expected to stop until Sunday.