In a swift response to mounting floodwaters, authorities in China have declared a Level-IV emergency in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters made the decision on Friday amidst growing concerns over severe rainfall.
Forecasts predict that from Friday to Sunday, heavy rains will continue to impact not only Beijing and Tianjin but also the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northeastern provinces, and the Sichuan Basin. These torrential downpours are set to challenge local infrastructure and communities across a broad swath of the country.
Responding to the imminent threat, the Ministry of Emergency Management has called on affected regions to intensify their flood control efforts. This includes prioritizing the evacuation of residents from high-risk areas, ensuring the availability of essential resources and materials, and enacting temporary shutdowns to mitigate damage.
Beyond the immediate areas of Beijing and Hebei, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has maintained a Level-IV emergency status for other regions, including Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Sichuan. Additionally, the National Disaster Reduction Commission has kept a Level-II emergency response in place for the flood-affected Hunan Province.
China's four-tier emergency response system for flood control prioritizes swift action, with Level I being the most urgent. The current Level-IV status underscores the severity of the situation and the coordinated efforts underway to safeguard millions of residents.
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Emergency response launched to floods in Beijing, neighboring regions
cgtn.com
