BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Water Resources on Thursday activated a Level-IV flood emergency response for Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces ahead of expected heavy rainfall through June 25.
Forecasters warned that persistent heavy to extremely heavy rain will sweep central and eastern China over the coming week, raising river levels and putting some smaller waterways at risk of exceeding warning levels.
The ministry has issued province-specific alerts listing at-risk regions, reservoirs and flood-prone zones, and dispatched three work teams to Guizhou, Hubei and Hunan to provide on-site guidance.
Local water authorities have been ordered to enhance hydrological monitoring, emergency preparedness and management of hydraulic infrastructure to protect lives and property.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response. ■
