CHANGSHA, July 15 -- About 720,000 people from 240 townships in central China's Hunan Province have been affected as heavy rainstorms have swept the province since early Monday morning, the provincial flood control headquarters said on Tuesday.

Initial investigation showed that 465 homes in the province have been toppled and 149,400 local residents have been relocated as a result of the storms, the headquarters said.

In Hunan's Fenghuang County, more than 120,000 locals and tourists have been evacuated since Monday night as record downpours hit the county.

Power supply in Fenghuang has been cut off and multiple temporary settlements set up in the county seat to cater for the evacuated people. About 128,000 people in the county have been affected by the flooding, according to its government.

Fenghuang, a tourist destination renowned for its ancient town, has seen precipitation of up to 189 mm in the round up downpours.

Several bridges on the Tuojiang River have been inundated or destroyed. Water has flowed into dozens of bars, restaurants and hotels. The water level is sufficient for boats to pass along several streets, according to witnesses.

The local hydrographical bureau issued a red alert, the highest level in the country's four-tier warning system, at 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday.

The water levels of three big reservoirs in the county have also surpassed warning levels by 0.61 to 2.04 meters.

Fenghuang County receives an average of 20,000 to 30,000 tourists a day. Several scenic spots have been temporarily closed for safety reasons.P Flood-triggered landslides blocked several highways in Hunan on Tuesday.

Heavy rain will continue to hit the province on Wednesday, according to the provincial meteorological station.