China launches emergency response for flood-hit Anhui [Video]

Chinese authorities on Monday updated a Level-III emergency response for disaster relief as heavy rains have led to flooding in east China’s Anhui Province.

China has a four-level emergency response system for disaster relief, with Level IV being the lowest level and Level I the highest.

Rainstorms in Anhui have affected approximately 991,000 residents and necessitated the evacuation of 242,000 people.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, rainstorms have caused extensive damage in 36 counties and districts across seven prefecture-level cities in Anhui, according to the provincial emergency-management authorities.

The Yangtze River, China’s longest river, has seen water levels in its Anhui section exceed their warning marks, and continue to rise. Torrential rains have also pushed waters above their guaranteed or alert levels in another 20 rivers and six lakes in the province.

Torrential rains continued to lash a large swathe of the province over the past day. As of 5 …