China allocates 350 million yuan to support three flood-hit provinces

BEIJING -- China's top economic planner said on Sunday that it has allocated 350 million yuan (about $49.08 million) from the central budget to aid disaster relief and restoration efforts in the flood-stricken Henan, Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces.

The money will be used to fund the emergency recovery of flood-damaged schools, hospitals, flood control facilities and more in these three provinces, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

In China, during the peak flood season from late July to early August, heavy rainfall and typhoons cause water levels to rise, posing a significant threat to communities along rivers, near lakes and on coastlines.

The National Meteorological Center on Sunday continued to issue a blue alert, the least severe warning, for rainstorms.

The center forecast that from 2 pm Sunday to 2 pm Monday, torrential rains will sweep vast parts of the country, including Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hebei and Shandong.

It has advised local governments to implement appropriate preparations and check drainage systems in cities, farmlands and fishponds.