Surging waters below, video footage shows emergency workers struggling to rescue one local man from his home as severe floods hit southwest China.

A mountaineering-style traverse rope allowed the man to "zip-line" across to safety, as rising waters raged around his house.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) VILLAGER, LI JINGPING, SAYING:

"It thundered yesterday and then rain followed. I thought it might be like the day before yesterday when there was nothing serious. But when the day broke at six am, the flood became more and more torrential. At four pm it was impossible to go out."

Powerful storms and heavy rains have inundated parts of southwest China, according to state media.

Vast areas of cropland have been flooded and many roads are impassable.

Two more days of torrential rain are forecast.