Three people were killed and another 17 were unaccounted for after heavy rain battered Yongchuan District in Chongqing Municipality starting Saturday night, said local authorities.

In addition, two people were also unaccounted for after the rain lashed Beibei District in the municipality.

Rescue and response efforts are currently underway in full swing.

Starting from 2pm on Sunday, Chongqing has adjusted Yongchuan District to a Level-I flood control emergency response at the municipal level, 29 districts and counties, such as Rongchang District and Beibei District, to a Level-II response, and nine districts and counties, including Yuzhong District, to a Level-III response, said the flood control and drought relief headquarters of Chongqing.

The Chashanzhuhai subdistrict of Yongchuan District logged the maximum rainfall of 296.6mm between 2am and 4am on Sunday, with a maximum hourly rainfall intensity of 103.6mm, according to the on-site command headquarters for flood control and rescue operations.

Heavy rains have hit 22 districts and counties in Chongqing, and the water levels of 22 rivers in the municipality have exceeded the warning level, according to Chongqing's hydrological monitoring station.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level-IV flood-control emergency response for Anhui, Henan, Chongqing and Shaanxi, while maintaining the same level of response for Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan.

From Sunday to Wednesday, heavy rainfall is expected to sweep across eastern and northern parts of southwest China, eastern parts of northwest China, areas between the Yellow River and the Huaihe River, areas between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, as well as the northern and western parts of areas south of the Yangtze River.

Some small and medium-sized rivers in high-risk areas could exceed warning levels.

The ministry has urged local authorities to strengthen real-time monitoring of rainfall and water-level conditions and issue early warning information in a timely manner. (Xinhua)



Edited by Edmond Fong