Five people were killed and one remains missing in southwest China villages after surging floodwaters swept them away, local authorities said Monday.

A hailstorm amid heavy rain hit the village of Xiaolongdong, in southwest China's Yunnan Province Sunday afternoon. Eight villagers who took shelter under a bridge to avoid the storm were swept away by surging floodwaters, local publicity officials said.

Three of the eight were confirmed dead, four the villagers were rescued, with two suffering severe injuries, and one was missing, the officials said.

In the nearby village of Xiaomi, two villagers were also swept away and died in the flood, officials added.

Heavy rains and ensuing floods have continued to plague southern parts of China, affecting millions of people and hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland.