A video has been released showing rescuers evcauate residents in southern China after a series of devastating floods destroyed thousands of homes.

The local fire brigade was dispatched to rescue those trapped by severe flooding in Kaili, Guizhou Province, with state broadcaster CCTV broadcasting the moment five residents living at the top of a two-story residential building alongside the Yanbala River were rescued.

Torrential rain for the past two weeks has caused widespread flooding through southern China, with reports saying that at least 54 people have been killed so far. More than 15,000 homes have been destroyed, with over 250,000 people relocated into temporary accommodation.

It is believed at least 8 million people in total have been affected by the floods, with thousands affected by power outages and cuts to water supplies.