Southern China is ramping up flood control and relief operations as persistent heavy rainfall since June 9 has prompted local authorities to take urgent measures to minimize disaster damage.
China's national observatory renewed a yellow alert on Saturday for rainstorms, as torrential rain is expected in several regions.
According to the National Meteorological Center, downpours are expected to hit parts of Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Heilongjiang from 08:00 on Saturday to 08:00 on Sunday.
Some regions will experience short-term heavy rainfall, with hourly precipitation reaching 80 mm or more, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales.
Local governments have been urged to appropriately prepare and inspect city drainage systems, farmlands, and fishponds.
China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system. Red represents the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.
China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Saturday continues to maintain the Level-4 emergency response, the lowest in a four-tier system, for the floods in Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Chongqing, Guizhou, Jiangsu, and Guangxi.
In Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, recent heavy rains have caused widespread flooding, leaving streets covered in mud and debris after the waters receded.
Local armed police have swiftly mobilized 145 personnel to clear over 22,400 square meters of mud and 94 tons of debris in the affected areas as of Friday.
"The streets were piled high with trash, but fortunately, the community leaders brought in the People's Liberation Army soldiers to help us resolve the problem, and they cleared away all the garbage. We are grateful to them," said a Guilin resident surnamed Liu.
Since Thursday night, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has experienced severe rainfall, raising river levels in Taipingchang Town, Nanchuan District, and causing urban flooding in Dadukou District. Local authorities swiftly implemented emergency measures to ensure the safety of residents.
Heavy rains caused the water levels in Lixiang Creek to surge at 01:00 on Friday, flooding nearby farmlands and homes in Taipingchang Town.
Emergency teams and militias were mobilized to evacuate residents and assist with debris removal and property transfer.
Multiple residential areas and low-lying roads were flooded in Dadukou District. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene and used high-powered pumps to drain the water.
The drainage operations have now been completed.
In Taoyuan County of Changde City in central China's Hunan Province, heavy rains disrupted road traffic and communications, with one person reported missing.
As of 08:00 on Saturday, over 5,800 residents had been evacuated. Efforts are underway to restore communication in three affected villages and clear over 300 road blockages on National Highway 319.
Rescue operations continue, with local authorities working to relocate affected residents and search for the missing person.
Since Friday, heavy rains have caused significant water accumulation in Xianning City in central China's Hubei Province.
The local government activated an emergency plan to manage traffic and relocate stranded residents.
Early on Saturday, severe flooding in Chibi City stranded several vehicles. Police and auxiliary officers arrived to assist, pushing vehicles out of the water.
Similar efforts were made in Xianning's Xian'an District, where officials opened maintenance holes and set up warning signs to guide traffic safely around flooded areas.
Severe flooding occurred in a residential area in Xian'an district on Saturday morning, trapping some residents in their homes.
Local fire departments were dispatched for rescue operations. By Saturday noon, over 100 residents had also been rescued.
In Jiaxing City in east China's Zhejiang Province, water management efforts are in full swing to control rising river levels.
Two gate pumps in the Hangjiahu (Hangzhou-Jiaxing-Huzhou) Plain operate at full capacity and have discharged approximately 60 million cubic meters of water.
With a brief respite from the rain on Friday, local governments across Zhejiang expedited flood prevention measures to ensure safety during the rainy season.
In Changxing County, Huzhou, village officials conduct door-to-door inspections for safety hazards, monitor river levels, and inspect landslide-prone areas.
They are also checking the stockpile of flood control supplies like sandbags and life vests.
Similarly, in Zhoushan's Dinghai District, Baichuan Town is accelerating slope management projects to prevent soil erosion and ensure safe flood discharge.
Southern China braces for floods as heavy rains persist
