Flood affects over 180,000 people in south China county

GUANGZHOU, June 18 (Xinhua) -- As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, continuous heavy rainfall had affected over 180,000 residents in Huaiji County under Zhaoqing City, south China's Guangdong Province.

The downpours, triggered by Typhoon Wutip, the first typhoon of the year, along with an upper-level trough and monsoon rains, have lashed the region since Saturday. At 7:05 a.m. Wednesday, floodwaters in Huaiji peaked at 55.22 meters, surpassing the warning level by 5.22 meters.

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, around 183,000 residents across 19 townships in Huaiji had been affected, with levees, roads and croplands sustaining significant damage. Meanwhile, 68,000 people have been urgently relocated to safer areas, according to local authorities.

Currently, more than 10,000 rescue personnel and over 500 units of emergency equipment have been mobilized.

Huaiji elevated its flood control emergency response to level I, the highest, at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Local authorities have suspended classes, work, production, transportation and business activities across the county. ■