Torrential rain and ensuing landslides have claimed at least 35
lives in south China's Guangdong
Province, said the provincial flood control office
Thursday.
The office also said that more than 540,000 people in the
province were affected by floods.
The province started an A-grade flood alert response mechanism
Thursday after the water level of the Xijiang River, a major
tributary to the Pearl River, reached 12.53 meters, 2.53 meters
above the warning line.
Weather forecast said that torrential rain will sweep the Pearl
River Delta area and other coastal areas of the province in the
coming day.
The provincial education department issued an emergency notice
urging schools to have safety checks and suspend classes if any
threat is spotted.
(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2005)