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Rains lash southern China as rising rivers threaten more flooding

Days of downpour, flash floods and landslides throughout southern China required authorities to step up emergency situation plans, as rising waters from swollen rivers threatened to disrupt the lives of millions.

As of Thursday, at least nine individuals had actually passed away in Guangdong province's city of Meizhou and another 6 were missing there in the middle of the worst floods on record on the Songyuan and Shiku rivers, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Guangdong updated an emergency situation reaction plan for landslides, flooding and other disasters to the second-highest level, assisting to coordinate and release resources across the flood-stricken province.

A number of other provinces have already activated a Level-IV emergency situation response China's flood control emergency reaction. system has 4 levels, with Level-I being the most severe.

The yearly flooding season began previously in China this year, as southern provinces dealt with intense storms that have actually swept away bridges and ruined low-rise homes, devastated agricultural output and immersed numerous cities.

Authorities in Guilin, a major city in Guangxi in southwest China, raised a red flood caution signal, the greatest level, late on Wednesday when the water level of the Li River, which runs through the city, reached 3.61 metres above the caution line, China Daily reported on Thursday.

The water level at the river's hydrological station in Rongjiang area struck a record high, threatening lives and homes along the river, the report said.

Guilin authorities prompted authorities at departments, areas and beautiful spots to help prevent and fight possible flooding in the coming days as water levels at major rivers continue to rise, according to state media.

Guilin Train station authorities suspended operations of some trains, and trains passing through some lines will be postponed, according to a declaration from its main Weibo social media account.

The central government in Beijing has earmarked 346 million yuan ($ 48.6 million) in catastrophe relief funds to assist flood control and dry spell relief efforts, according to Xinhua news firm.

Moderate to heavy rain is expected to start once again Friday through Monday in the center and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the longest waterway in Asia, according to China's. Central Meteorological Observatory.

Several locations could see more downpour over the next. 2 weeks as a sticking around rain belt moves northward, according to. the National Meteorological Center, state media reported.

(source: Reuters)