More than five million people have been displaced or otherwise affected by flooding in eastern China that is also pushing up food prices, state media reported on Sunday.

Torrential rains have left huge areas of Hubei and Zhejiang provinces under water, with more than 432 200 hectares of farmland inundated, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Almost 1 000 businesses have been forced to suspend operations and 5.7-million people have had their lives disrupted, Xinhua said in a brief report. More than 7 000 homes collapsed or were otherwise damaged and direct financial damage was estimated at almost six-billion yuan ($930-million).

Flooding worst in 20 years

The downpour triggered a mudslide that buried houses and killed two people in Zhejiang’s Changshan county, while two more were killed and two left missing by flooding in Hubei, Xinhua said.

Flooding in eastern and southern China this month has left more than 170 people dead or missing. Roads and railways have been blocked, but aid supplies are arriving and the country’s weather bureau says skies are expected to clear up Monday.

Farmers quoted by Xinhua said the flooding was the worst in 20 years, reducing vegetable output by 20% and also causing shortages of fruits and grains. Prices for green vegetables were up 40%, Xinhua said, adding to an inflation rate of 5.5%, a three-year high.

The increase in the consumer price index reported last week was in line with expectations but higher than April’s 5.3% and March’s 5.4%. The National Statistics Bureau said the main factor was an 11.7% jump in food prices.

Higher food prices blamed on flooding were also reported in the eastern provinces of Anhui and Jiangxi, Xinhua said. – Sapa-AP