China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Sunday activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response for Guangdong province after the region was severely affected by Typhoon Noul.

A working team has been dispatched to disaster-hit areas to assess the situation on the ground, and guide and assist local authorities in the relocation and resettlement of affected residents and efforts to ensure their basic living needs.

The National Development and Reform Commission has allocated 100 million yuan to support post-disaster recovery work in Guangdong.

The funds will be used mainly for the restoration of damaged infrastructure, including roads and water conservancy facilities, as well as public service facilities such as schools and hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources upgraded its flood-control emergency response for Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangdong provinces from Level IV to Level III, amid high risks of mountain floods.

Risk assessments showed that 43 counties in contiguous areas across the three provinces will face red-alert-level risks of mountain floods from 8am on Sunday to 8am on Monday, indicating a high likelihood of such disasters.

The ministry dispatched two additional working teams to Jiangxi and Hunan to assist and guide flood-control efforts.

Typhoon Noul made landfall early Sunday along the coast of Guangdong. More than 340,000 people had been relocated in the province as of Saturday afternoon, authorities said. (Reporting by Xinhua)



Edited by Edmond Fong