Nine people have died and more than 91,000 forced to flee their homes after torrential rain lashed eastern China causing severe flooding, state media reported Monday.

The downpours killed nine people in Anhui province and affected 2.6 million others there, the Xinhua news agency said.

The flooding hit the Chuhe River valley in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces with water levels in some areas reaching record levels, Xinhua said earlier.

The rain caused direct economic losses of 1.5 billion yuan (220 million dollars), civil affairs officials told Xinhua.

In addition, more than 38,300 houses were destroyed in the province, huge areas of crops were flooded and 91,330 people were displaced, the report said citing Anhui provincial flood control headquarters.

Four reservoirs were being used to try and maintain the water levels in the Chuhe River, while 7,900 armed police and military officials were monitoring the situation, an earlier report said.

Torrential rain has affected huge parts of southern and central China this summer, taking a heavy toll in life and material damage.