At least 17 people have died and dozens have been reported missing in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh after days of heavy rains, authorities said.

The state has been hit by intense torrents since Thursday, sparking massive floods in at least five districts.

The death toll rose to 17 late on Friday night when a building collapsed, killing three people, police said.

Ten people trapped under the debris were rescued but two are still missing.

Earlier on Friday, at least a dozen people died as heavy floods washed away the bus they were on.

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Search and rescue efforts for missing passengers continued on Saturday.

Deaths from various districts have been reported over the past few days, with officials warning the numbers could rise as rescue operations carry on.

National Disaster Relief Force teams have been deployed to the worst-hit and vulnerable districts.

Local authorities have rescued and evacuated hundreds of families to shelter homes.

In Kadapa district, one of the most badly affected, incessant rains and floods forced officials to close down the local airport until Thursday.

Officials said breaches in dams and tanks had caused further flooding, leaving hundreds of villages marooned and many residents stuck in their homes.

Rains in southern India at this time are not unusual, although the country has seen a prolonged monsoon this year.

Experts warn that climate change has exacerbated the problem by making downpours more intense and frequent.

Last week, Tamil Nadu state was struck by floods while at least 28 people in neighbouring Kerala state died as heavy rains triggered landslides last month.

AP/ABC