Thousands of people were evacuated Wednesday as central China's Wuhan city braced for flood waters from two swollen rivers.

According to the Yangtze Water Resources Commission, flood peaks of the mainstream of the Yangtze River and the Hanjiang River, the Yangtze's longest tributary, are expected to converge in Wuhan within 24 hours, Xinhua reported.

'It is very rare for the two rivers' flood peaks to arrive at Wuhan at the same time,' said an official.

About 5,000 residents in Xiantao and another 25,000 in southeast Wuhan were evacuated overnight.

More than 30,000 soldiers, emergency workers and residents are on guard at dikes near Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.

The city has a population of about 9.1 million and is a major transport and economic hub in central China. It stands at the centre of China's latest battle against floods which have left more than 1,400 people dead or missing this year.