Heavy rains lash China's Chongqing

CHONGQING - Water level at four rivers in Southwest China's megacity of Chongqing has risen above the safety guarantee level after torrential downpours battered 21 districts and counties of the city, local authorities said Thursday.

Moderate to heavy rains hit most parts of the municipality between 8 am Wednesday and 8 am Thursday, with Xiangshui village recording the maximum daily rainfall at 186.5 mm, the Chongqing hydrological monitoring station said.

The meteorological department has continuously issued warnings for severe convective weather, forecasting moderate to heavy rains in northeastern Chongqing on Thursday. More rivers in the city are expected to see rising water levels from 8 am Thursday to 8 am Friday.

The city has raised its emergency flood response to level III, the second-lowest in China's four-tier emergency response system.

China's national observatory on Tuesday renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms in many parts of the country.