5 missing, more than 7,000 evacuated amid heavy rainfall in SW China

Five people have been reported missing after torrential rain hit Zhaotong, a mountainous city in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local authorities said Wednesday.

Sustained heavy downpours have battered large parts of Zhaotong since Tuesday morning, wreaking havoc in several counties under the city's administration.

Two houses in Luobu Township, Weixin County, were swept away, leaving five people unaccounted for, according to a preliminary report. Search and rescue operations are underway.

Zhaotong authorities have launched all-out rescue and disaster relief efforts -- evacuating over 7,000 people to safety as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.