A flood that swept villages along the Huaihe River in Anhui province is expected to worsen as heavy rainfall is forecast to hit the river, according to meteorological departments.

On Tuesday, the Anhui provincial hydrographic office issued a red alert for flooding, the highest in a four-tier warning system.

Near the Wangjiaba hydrological station in the province's Fuyang city, located on the north side of the Huaihe's main stream, the flood left farmland submerged. Routes to villages have been cut off, and rescuers had to send relief materials by boat.

The area is home to over 195,000 people, and about 2,000 villagers among them who were doing farm work in the flood basin near the station have been relocated.