Flood warnings issued, more heavy rain forecast

Low-level flood warnings were issued for rivers and waterways in at least five provinces over the weekend, with more heavy rains forecast for many parts of the country this week.

The Changjiang River Water Resources Commission issued a flood-control emergency response of level IV, the lowest of the warning system, as concerns rose over potential dangers to life and property.

To ensure public safety, the commission required water resources departments of provinces near the Yangtze River, including Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu, to vigilantly monitor flood situation.

From Monday through Saturday, strong and persistent precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its tributaries may lead to flooding as well as hazards from landslides, the commission said.

The National Meteorological Center warned that from Monday to Wednesday parts of the country's southwestern and northeastern regions and south to the Yangtze River are expected to experience heavy rains and thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds and bursts of intense rainfall.

From Thursday through Sunday, parts of South and East China are forecast to be hit by heavy rainfall.

Southern China has entered the annual "dragon boat rain season", which starts on May 21 and lasts until June 20, the China Meteorological Administration said.

On Sunday and Monday, heavy downpours in Guiyang, Guizhou province, resulted in widespread flooding in urban areas. The heavy rain caused severe flooding in locations including subway stations, residential areas, parking lots and major roads, Guiyang Evening News reported.

In some flooded areas residents were trapped by water levels that reached their necks. By Monday, four people were rescued and 31 others evacuated from flood-hit areas, thepaper.cn reported.

The China Meteorological Administration said the country has seen increasing fluctuations in the amount of precipitation during the rainy season around Dragon Boat Festival in recent years.

For example, over the past 60 years the total rainfall in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region over the period has trended upward, despite noticeable annual variations.

Last year, the total rainfall during the dragon boat season in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, was the second-highest since 1951, causing economic losses of 11.45 billion yuan ($1.6 billion).

Forecasters warned that the dragon boat rainy season typically lasts a long time and brings heavy rainfall that could lead to geological disasters such as landslides, mudslides, and floods.