CHANGSHA, July 1 -- One person was killed and more than 74,300 people have been evacuated as downpours batter central China's Hunan Province, local authorities said.

Heavy rain since Tuesday has brought flooding to 55 counties across the province. More than 316,400 people in 161 townships were affected by the rain, according to the provincial flood control headquarters.

In Fenghuang, a popular tourist destination, the rainfall reached 75 mm per hour on Tuesday. Shops were flooded and a power cut in a residential area lasted for three hours.

The roads in the county were damaged and many motorcycles were swept away, according to the county flood control office.