Toll in China rainstorms rises to 37

At least 37 people were killed and six others were missing after rainstorms hit China, officials said Monday.

Twenty-two people were reported killed Sunday with seven missing.

Rainstorms in Guangdong have affected 800,000 people since Wednesday, and 16 national highways have been closed because of the downpour, Xinhua quoted the National Commission for Disaster Reduction's statement.

At least 447,000 were displaced while 25,000 houses collapsed, the statement said.

The continuous rainfall has also led to floods in mountainous areas and raised the water level of rivers, the statement added.

The Chinese government has initiated emergency efforts to the affected areas.