China issues blue alert for rainstorms

BEIJING - China's national observatory on Sunday issued a blue alert for rainstorms in parts of south and east China from now to Monday night.

Until 8 p.m. Monday, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected to hit areas including Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Anhui and Jiangsu, the National Meteorological Center said.

Some of those regions will see up to 120 mm of rainfall within 24 hours.

The center advised local governments to keep alert to possible flooding, landslides and mudslides caused by heavy rain and recommended outdoor operations be halted in hazardous areas.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.