Rescuers work in a flood-affected area in Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
NANNING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rainfall has pelted many areas in southern China since June 9, prompting local authorities to beef up flood control and rescue measures to reduce disaster damage.
The emergency management department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China said on Thursday 48 rivers in Guangxi were running above flood alert levels. The region started on Wednesday to implement a Level-II emergency response, which is next to the highest in the four-tier emergency response system, to floods, with flooding having hit 64 counties in 11 cities in Guangxi.
The region's Lijiang River, a signature scenery in the popular tourist destination of Guilin City, saw its worst flooding since 1998 between last Thursday and Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Liujiang River in Guangxi saw its first flood crest passing through the city of Liuzhou, as the water level exceeded the warning level by 3.78 meters.
The city's urban area suffered severe waterlogging. Urbanites were seen carrying goods out of building basements. A resident surnamed Zhang said he began to remove supplies from the underground floor on Tuesday evening because of his worry about flood water potentially gushing in.
While the flood was passing, the city authorities have opted to mobilize rescue efforts, including involvement of the city's maritime affairs department, the Red Cross and volunteer groups, which have responded to emergency deployment needs. Rescuers used boats in waterlogged areas, searching for trapped people and transferring them in batches.
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Rescuers clear debris in a flood-affected area in Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
Rescuers clear a flood-damaged road connecting Wengui Village and Sishui Township of Pingyuan County, in Meizhou City, south China's Guangdong Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 20, 2024 show residents waiting for evacuation at a flooded road in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)
Rescuers carrying rescue equipment enter a flood-affected area in Wuping County of Longyan City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi)
