China's Pearl River region braces for major floods

Aerial photo taken on Dec 19, 2021 shows the Beijiang grand bridge in Yingde city of Qingyuan, South China's Guangdong province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Flood control authority in south China's Pearl River basin activated a Level-II emergency response on Monday as persistent heavy rain over the past week has swollen rivers that could cause major floods in the region.

The Pearl River flood control and drought relief headquarters has also sent three work teams to Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region to assist with local flood-control efforts.

China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with level I being the most urgent and severe.

Recent downpours in the Pearl River basin have led to the continuous rise of water levels of its main rivers, including the Xijiang and Beijiang rivers. Some parts in Guangdong and Guangxi will also be highly prone to mountain torrents and other disasters, according to the headquarters.

Local governments in Guangdong and Guangxi have been urged to strengthen flood monitoring, forecast and early warning, enhance patrols and checks on dykes, reservoirs and drainage systems, and improve information services in order to ensure the safety of major infrastructures while preventing casualties, the headquarters said.

A work team under the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters was dispatched on Monday to Guangxi and Guangdong to provide guidance on local flood control efforts, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM).

In addition to the disaster relief materials that were allocated earlier, the headquarters and the MEM in coordination with the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration have dispatched another batch of flood control supplies, including assault boats, rubber boats, drainage pumps and lighting equipment to Guangxi to support local flood control and emergency rescue work.