Emergency response to South China rainstorms underway

BEIJING - The Chinese government initiated a grade IV emergency response on Monday morning as rainstorms ravaged provinces in south China.

At least 13 people have died and three others remain missing as of 8 a.m. Monday after downpours swept Hunan and Jiangxi provinces in southern China, as well as southwestern Guizhou Province, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement.

The rainstorms hit 20 counties in Jiangxi, leaving direct economic losses of 700 million yuan ($110 million dollars). About 764,000 people were affected and 123,000 were relocated, the ministry's figures showed.

In Hunan, 25 counties suffered direct economic losses of 1.59 billion yuan. About 1.31 million people were affected and 50,000 were relocated.

In Guizhou, rain in 17 counties brought economic losses of 480 million yuan. About 747,000 people were affected and 132,000 were relocated.

Grade IV emergency response, the lowest in the country's emergency response system, means a 24-hour alert, daily damage reports, and dispatching money and relief material within 48 hours.