Strong rains will sweep the quake zone in Yunnan Province from Monday to Tuesday night, bring risks of more flooding and landslides, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Monday.

A 6.5-magnitude quake jolted the southwestern province on Aug. 3, leaving at least 617 people dead.

Rescuers are racing to drain a barrier lake which threatens residents with flooding. The NMC warned the persisting rain may push up water levels in the lake and urged local authorities to keep on the alert.

Besides the quake region, most parts of southwestern China will be hit by rain, including Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei and Guizhou.