China activates Level IV flood emergency response for Shaanxi, Gansu

The Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV emergency response for flood prevention in the northwestern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu on Thursday as heavy rainfall threatened mountain flood disasters in parts of the two regions.

The emergency response took effect at 9 pm after weather forecasts indicated that southwestern monsoon winds combined with a cold air mass would bring heavy rain to parts of southwestern Shaanxi and southeastern Gansu from 8 pm Thursday through 8 am Monday.

Authorities warned that localized downpours and short-duration intense rainfall could trigger mountain floods.

From 8 pm Thursday to 8 pm Friday, mountain flood disaster alerts were raised to the orange level, the second-highest in China's four-tier warning system, for 13 county-level areas of the two provinces.

The ministry said it had instructed local water resources authorities to strengthen round-the-clock emergency duty, improve monitoring and analysis of rainfall and water conditions, and enhance forecasting and early warning efforts.

Officials were also told to implement emergency warning procedures, ensure the timely evacuation of residents from high-risk areas and prevent people from returning before it is safe, in an effort to safeguard lives and property.