Cars are submerged in flood water in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, on Sunday as the city was hit by heavy rainstorms. The city issued a red alert for rainstorms, the first this year. [Photo/VCG]

GUANGZHOU - Close to 7,000 people have been relocated after intense rainstorms hit northern Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province on Sunday morning.

Rainstorms hit northern Guangzhou early Sunday morning, causing landslides in mountainous areas while flooding three districts in the city, the Guangdong provincial meteorological bureau said.

A total of 172 houses collapsed. No casualties have been reported, the city flood control headquarters said.