Torrential rains to continue in China

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-12-2008 15:14

The central government has directed authorities at all levels to take preventive action against torrential floods and secondary natural disasters. Since late May, rainstorms have affected millions of people and will continue.

Heavy rain has pounded parts of China for weeks, causing floods, mudflows and landslides, and heavy losses of life and property.

Heavy rain has pounded parts of China for weeks, causing floods, mudflows and landslides, and heavy losses of life and property.

In Zhejiang province, the rain has affected more than 930-thousand people and more than 70,000 hectares of crops, halting factory production and forcing closure of roads.

Water levels in at least five reservoirs in the province had risen above the warning line as of Wednesday.

Preliminary estimates put the losses in Zhejiang at 860 million yuan, or over 100 million US dollars.

Constant downpours in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have killed one person and affected some 920,000 people. Thousands of houses have been brought down, damage to power lines and irrigation facilities has also been reported.

The eastern province of Jiangxi has recorded over 200 millimeters of rainfall in over 40 counties in just three days. The Raohe River, one of the five major rivers in the province, has seen its largest flood in a decade.

The deluge has reached some low-lying areas in the provincial capital Nanchang. The city's education department has instructed all schools to close if necessary to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

The National Meteorological Center is forecasting that the rain will sweep across many parts of China, including Jinagsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai and the quake-hit Sichuan in the next few days.

The central government has directed local authorities to keep the public informed by all means including radio, TV, text messages and wireless broadcasts. Local governments have also been told to go all out in relief efforts in rain-ravaged areas.

Editor:Zhang Ning