China’s central meteorological authority has issued a blue alert, the first of a four-tier warning system, for heavy rain in multiple areas. Torrential downpours are expected to continue in China’s eastern and central regions, as well as in parts of southern China.The worst-hit regions are the eastern province of Jiangxi and Hunan province in central China. In Jiangxi, at least 5 people are reported to have died in the storms, and more than 120,000 have been evacuated from their homes. In Hunan, heavy flooding has left 7 people dead, and another 4 missing. More than 170,000 people in the province have been evacuated.
Emergency response teams and relief materials have been sent to the disaster-hit regions. A grade-four national emergency response has been issued in several provinces, the lowest level in China’s emergency response system. |
