The swollen Huai River in the country's east, which has experienced its worst flooding in more than a decade, hovered above the 67-centimeter (26-inch) warning level around Hongze lake on Saturday, China News Service reported.

More than 1.34 million people have been called out to monitor or reinforce the dykes in the valley of the Yangtze tributary, where more than 1.3 million residents had no choice but to flee their waterlogged homes.

Central China's Dongting and Poyang lakes, the two natural reservoirs for the Yangtze, were cresting above the warning levels of 33 and 68 centimeters respectively.

A state of emergency was declared in Hubei province, which sent work teams out to console the flood refugees and counsel local authorities in their efforts to beat back the waters, the local Chutian Jinbao reported.

The province's civil affairs department also released 16 million yuanmillion dollars) to assist the refugees, for whom there is no official tally.

Meanwhile in Beijing, a violent storm uprooted dozens of trees and two people clinging to a metal guardrail were fatally struck by lightning.

Heavy rains buffeted the capital for about 15 minutes, bringing with them gale force nine winds, the Beijing Star Daily reported.

Finally in southwest Sichuan province, the bodies of six victims of a major landslide in Danba district were recovered, although 45 people are still missing, lost in a mud sinkhole of between three and five meters thick since July 11.

Five of the six bodies were identified, China News Service reported -- among them Su Xiangmei, a teacher from Shanghai on holiday in the region, and four villagers.

Bad weather is expected to continue in China, with CCTV reporting that parts of southern Guangdong province and Hainan were battening down the hatches in preparation for torrential and strong winds caused by typhoon Koni.

TERRA.WIRE