Beijing (AP) a Red Cross official warns that the delivery of aid to earthquake victims could be hindered during China's peak rainy season, which has begun.

Severe floods in the country's southeast this week have already killed dozens of people.

Medium to heavy rain is forecast in the next few days for the area hit hardest by the magnitude 7.9 quake that struck May 12th. The quake killed almost 70,000 people and left 5 million homeless.

Hundreds of tent communities have sprung up and some of the temporary shelters do not have adequate drainage. Many are also situated in flat plains below mountains at risk of flooding.

The China daily newspaper also quotes an official as saying that as summer approaches, the threat of infectious diseases increases.