China's Ministry of Water Resources activated a level-IV emergency response for flood control and prevention in five southern provincial-level regions on April 19.
The response was issued for Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, and work teams have been dispatched to assist local governments in flood control, the ministry said.
Xiangjiang River in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, central China, April 7, 2024. /CFP
From April 19 to 22, various parts of southern China are expected to see heavy rainfall, with some of the areas experiencing rainstorms, according to forecasts from the ministry.
Affected by heavy rains, several rivers in the Yangtze River basin and the Pearl River basin are likely to see a significant water-level rise. Some branches and tributaries in areas heavily hit by the rains may see floods.
The ministry required water resources departments in the five provincial-level regions and relevant government organs to closely monitor the changes in water conditions, enhance early warning and strengthen flood prevention work for reservoirs and rivers.
(Cover: Beijiang River in Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, south China, April 8, 2024. /CFP)