A photo taken on Aug 14, 2022 shows rescuers at the Longcao valley in Longmenshan town, Pengzhou, Sichuan province after a flash flood. (PHOTO / VCG)
BEIJING – Chinese authorities on Sunday launched a Level-IV emergency response for floods in Sichuan and Chongqing, the Ministry of Emergency Management said.
Meanwhile, the authorities decided to maintain the level-IV emergency response for floods in Shaanxi and Gansu, the ministry added.
Rainy days are forecast to persist in west China over the next ten days, with the cumulative rainfall significantly higher than normal years, according to the country's meteorological authority.
Heatwaves have engulfed most parts of the four provincial-level regions since July, causing the soil to become dry, hard and cracked, which increases the risk of natural disasters once rains hit
Heatwaves have engulfed most parts of the four provincial-level regions since July, causing the soil to become dry, hard and cracked, which increases the risk of natural disasters once rains hit.
The four regions should strengthen early warning and emergency response for floods and relocate residents in disaster-prone areas in advance, the ministry said.
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China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level-I being the most severe.
Also on Sunday, the Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert for mountain torrents in parts of the country.
From 8 pm Sunday to 8 pm Monday, northeastern and central parts of Sichuan and southern parts of Shaanxi will be at an increased risk of mountain torrents, according to the orange alert jointly issued by the two authorities.
The two departments also issued a yellow alert for mountain torrents in parts of the Sichuan, Yunnan and Shaanxi provinces for the same period.
READ MORE: China activates Level IV emergency response for floods
Local authorities are advised to strengthen real-time monitoring and flood warning procedures amid measures to brace for evacuation.
China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.