Guangdong raises flood response to Level III as rains intensify

Guangdong has raised its flood control emergency response to Level III, as torrential rains heighten the risk of mountain flood disasters. Over 13,000 people have been evacuated as of Sunday evening.

On Monday morning, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Water Resources issued a flash flood disaster risk warning, calling for measures to prevent geological hazards. According to the department's statement, mountain floods are highly likely to occur locally over the next 24 hours in Huizhou's Huicheng and Huiyang districts, Shenzhen's Pingshan district, and other areas.

Local authorities are required to closely monitor weather forecasts and water regime changes, and implement real-time monitoring, early warning, evacuation, and risk avoidance measures. The flood control response was raised from Level IV to Level III on Sunday to address the situation's severity.

Heavy to torrential rain, with local extreme downpours, has hit northern Guangdong, the northern Pearl River Delta, and eastern coastal areas since Friday. As of 8 pm Sunday, 13,283 people had been evacuated, according to the provincial emergency management department.

Affected by the rain, some trains operating between Yangcun township and Huizhou Station on the Beijing-Kowloon Railway service were adjusted on Monday, with measures including passenger diversion, suspension, and return trips, railway authorities said.