The death toll from heavy rains and floods in southwest China has risen to 15, with more than 100,000 people affected, according to local authorities.

The rains, which started on Monday, have triggered landslides, mudslides and flash floods in several counties and cities in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, as well as the Chongqing municipality.

The worst-hit area is Mianning county in Sichuan, where 12 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others are missing, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 60,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Mianning, and about 7,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed, the county government said.

The county has also suffered power outages, road closures and communication disruptions due to the disaster.

In neighboring Yunnan province, three people have died and one is missing after a landslide buried a village in Zhaotong city on Tuesday, Xinhua said.

About 40,000 people have been affected by the floods in Zhaotong, and more than 3,000 have been relocated to safer places.

The Chongqing municipality has also reported heavy rainfall and flooding in some districts, affecting about 28,000 people and damaging more than 1,000 houses.

The local governments have activated emergency response plans and dispatched rescue teams to the affected areas.

The China Meteorological Administration has warned of more rainstorms and floods in the coming days, and urged people to take precautions and avoid outdoor activities.