China issues alert for rainstorms in south

BEIJING - China's meteorological authority on Sunday issued a blue alert, the lowest level in a four-color warning system, for rainstorms in the south from Sunday to Monday.

From Sunday to 8:00 am on Monday, regions in south China's Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Taiwan will be swept by heavy rain or rainstorms up to 80 millimeters (mm) within 24 hours, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said in a statement.

Guangdong and Guangxi will experience downpours from 100 to 130 mm within 24 hours, the center said.

The NMC warned southern regions to take precautions against disasters that the strong rainfalls may bring about, including urban waterlogging, torrential flood and landslide.

China has a four-color warning system for strong rain, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.