NANNING, March 30 -- Hailstorms have battered parts of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since Saturday, leaving one people dead and more than 2,000 hectares of crops destroyed, local authorities said Sunday.

The Civil Affairs Department of Guangxi said one people was reported dead due to hailstorms, which have affected 96,000 residents and destroyed 2,520 hectares of crops. Nearly 70 houses collapsed and 1,716 houses were badly damaged as of 06:30 p.m..

Local meteorological authorities has issued red alert for heavy rain at 01:15 p.m. on Sunday. It said in some parts of worst-hit Cenxi City, the amount of rainfall has reached above 10 cm over the past three hours and will continue to rise. Torrential flood and landslide battered many towns and counties of the city.

Weather forecasts said heavy rain and hail will continue to hit parts of Guangxi on Sunday night and Monday.