Surging water from a swollen river has flooded streets of a southwestern Chinese city nestled in a mountain valley, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents in low-lying areas, local authorities said Friday.

Flood waters rose to as high as three meters on the streets of Dazhou, Sichuan Province, and flooded first-floor apartment rooms and streetside shops.

Officials with the municipal government's emergency response office said they had not received reports of any casualties. At least 18,600 residents had been evacuated in a suburban area as more than 600 houses collapsed. Roads were also cut off.

Heavy rain has pounded Dazhou and surrounding areas since Wednesday. Local officials said the flood peak of Zhouhe River that runs through Dazhou came before mid-night Thursday.