Over 36,000 evacuated due to heavy rains in China's southern Guangdong province

Torrential rains battering China's southern Guangdong province since Friday night have necessitated the evacuation of more than 36,000 residents, state television CCTV reported. The downpours have triggered widespread flooding and emergency responses across the region.

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18 cities and 70 districts or counties had activated emergency responses for floods or torrential rains, with a cumulative total of 36,127 people transferred to safe areas.

As of Tuesday evening, 18 cities and 70 districts within Guangdong had activated emergency protocols for floods and torrential rain. Authorities reported that 36,127 people have been relocated to safe areas. To manage the crisis, 123 drainage, rescue, and emergency teams, comprising approximately 6,500 personnel, have been deployed. Additionally, over 12,000 workers and 3,500 large machines are involved in emergency construction efforts, supported by aerial assets like helicopters and drones.

The National Meteorological Center has maintained a yellow alert for rain, the second-highest level in China's four-tier warning system. Forecasters anticipate heavy to torrential precipitation in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning. Coastal areas of Guangdong and Guangxi, along with the central municipality of Chongqing, are expected to experience particularly intense rainfall, with local accumulations potentially reaching 250 to 350 millimeters. Short bursts of rain exceeding 90 millimeters per hour, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds, are also possible.

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The National Meteorological Center maintained this Wednesday a yellow alert for rain, the second most serious in the Chinese four-color system, due to the forecast of heavy or torrential rainfall.

Provincial officials cited by CCTV indicated that rivers in Guangdong have risen significantly, with major rivers experiencing increases of 2 to 5 meters and smaller waterways swelling by 3 to 8 meters. These rains coincide with the traditional 'Dragon Boat Festival' period, known for intense seasonal precipitation in southern China. The country frequently experiences severe weather events like floods and landslides during its summer monsoon season, particularly in its southern and central regions.

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In Guangdong, the rains have caused rises of between 2 and 5 meters in the main rivers and between 3 and 8 meters in some medium and small riverbeds.