New Delhi, July 7 -- The death toll from powerful storms that battered several parts of China climbed to 15 on Tuesday, while hundreds of people were injured and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes, according to state media. President Xi Jinping called for authorities to make "all-out" efforts to rescue those affected and minimise further casualties.

Footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed raging torrents of muddy water surging through a breached reservoir in the southern Guangxi region, where floodwaters tore through collapsed concrete walls after the dam gave way.

Emergency responders wearing helmets and life jackets continued searching for missing residents, while rescue teams used inflatable boats to reach stranded c...