S China told to adopt flood prevention measures

BEIJING - China's flood control authority said on Thursday that local governments in southern Chinese regions should adopt measures to prevent rain-triggered floods over the next few days, as these areas are predicted to receive greater amounts of rain.

Weather forecasts predict that over the next five days, there will be 30 to 50 millimeters of precipitation in most parts of areas south to the Yangtze River, eastern and northern parts of southwest China, the southern portion of the valley between the Huaihe River and the Yangtze, and the eastern part of northeast China, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Rainfall in parts of Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, as well as Guangxi Zhuang and Tibet autonomous regions - most of which are in areas south to the Yangtze River - may reach 50 to 100 millimeters.

Some of the areas may also experience sporadic thunderstorm, strong winds or even hailstone weather during this time, the office said in a statement on its website.

"Local authorities of the southern regions should strengthen monitoring of rainy weather and reinforce measures to prevent flash floods or flooding on rivers and reservoirs, the statement said.