China issues alert for flash floods

BEIJING -- The meteorological authority Monday warned that flash flooding is likely to follow torrential rain in the northwest and southwest of the country.

Parts of Yunnan Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are likely see flash floods from Monday night to Tuesday night, the China Meteorological Administration said.

Local authorities were told to prepare for mud flows and landslides.

Since June, floods and droughts have hit both north and south China, with some regions severely affected.

Nine people died and one remains missing after torrential rain hit Sichuan and Guizhou provinces in the southwest at the beginning of September.

Eight people died and seven remain missing after heavy rain hit parts of southwest and central China from Friday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.