Days of torrential rain in central China's Hunan Province raised the water level of several river channels to warning mark on Sunday morning, according to the Provincial Flood Control Office.

The water level in the section of the Xiangjiang River, a major tributary of the Yangtze River, in Hunan, reached 39.21 meters at 6:30 a.m. local time above the previous record of 39.18 meters in 1998.

The water level of landmark hydrometric station in Dongting Lake in northern Hunan has risen to 33.7 meters, worsening the flood control situation.

Houses are flooded by water in Taojiang County, central China's Hunan Province on June 30, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

According to the Office of Hunan Provincial Flood Control, the torrential rain has lashed over 14 cities including 115 counties and 1,207 villages. It affected four million people, destroyed 295,160 hectares of crops and damaged 6,369 houses.   

Heavy rainfall has hit central China's Hunan Province, July 1, 2017. /Xinhua Photo 

At least 13 people were dead and two were missing in the disaster. More than 260,000 people have been evacuated. 

Downpours and floods also hit other provinces including Jiangxi and Hubei.

A scene in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, July 1, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The provincial meteorological experts predict that Hunan will still have more rain next week, adding the more flooding is feared due to the soil moisture saturation. 

State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters have launched a level-III emergency response plan to help flood victims on Saturday.