A man was helped to rescue himself using a rope traverse from his home after parts of southwest China were inundated with floods, leaving tens of thousands affected.

A mountaineering-style traverse rope allowed the man to "zip-line" across to safety, as rising waters raged around his house.

Powerful storms and heavy rains have inundated parts of southwest China, according to state media.

Vast areas of cropland have been flooded and many roads are impassable.

Two more days of torrential rain are forecast.