KUNMING - Heavy downpours since last Friday and ensuing floods have affected around 226,000 people in southwest China's Yunnan province, local authorities said Friday.

As of 16:30 pm, heavy rain and floods had killed six people, forced 756 to be relocated to safety, and affected around 226,000 people from fifteen prefectures and cities across the province, according to the provincial disaster reduction committee.

Floods also damaged 12,040 hectares of crops and 1,686 houses, causing direct economic loss of 228 million yuan (33 million US dollars).

The local weather bureau forecast heavy rainfall would continue over the next four days, together with thunder, strong wind, and hail. The committee has warned local authorities and residents to take precautions.