Many evacuated in Guangdong; more rain coming

All residents in Jiangwan township of Shaoguan, Guangdong province, one of the areas hardest-hit by heavy rainfall over the past several days, had been evacuated to safety by Wednesday night, as a new deluge began to assault the city.

As of 8 pm on Wednesday, rescue workers had transported 1,514 affected people out of the township by bus and helicopter, following warnings of additional heavy rain on the way that would last until Friday, local authorities said.

"I have never seen such heavy rain in my life, nor have people older than me," said a 72-year-old resident surnamed Jiang.

Telecommunication and power supplies in Jiangwan were temporarily suspended during the heavy downpours. Houses collapsed and roads were blocked.

During intermittent pauses in the rain, Jiang, from Huyang village, and several dozen other residents helped each cross a river to the center area of the township on Wednesday morning, guided by ropes. An essential bridge leading to the central area had been washed away by powerful floodwaters.

Heavy downpours in the township over the past several days have resulted in extremely high soil moisture content, bringing a risk of landslides, local meteorological authorities said.

The new round of heavy rainfall starting on Wednesday night is expected to overlap with the previous precipitation, significantly increasing the risk of geological disasters. So it is crucial to be vigilant against the secondary disasters such as flash floods, landsides and building collapses, the meteorological authorities said.