President Xi Jinping has ordered "all-out" rescue efforts in China's dry and mountainous northwest after severe flash floods, triggered by exceptionally heavy rainfall.

The extreme conditions have resulted in at least 10 deaths and have left 33 people missing.

Heavy rainfall began around 6pm on Thursday, triggering flash floods in Yuzhong, Gansu province, and leaving about 4,000 people stranded.

Image: Rescuers at the site of mountain torrents in Yuzhong County. Pic: Xinhua/AP

One mountainous area in Yuzhong County saw up to 195mm (7.7in) of rainfall since Thursday evening - around half of the 300mm to 400mm it typically gets in an entire year.

Ankle-deep muddy water could be seen flowing down a hillside road, bordered by trees that had been torn from the ground.

Image: A deliver

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