BEIJING - The Chinese central authority on Thursday activated its lowest-level emergency response plan, to address the floods in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

The level-IV response was sparked by rain and floods that, according to provincial civil affairs departments, have resulted in at least 13 deaths and one ongoing missing persons case since Saturday.

It reported that more than 4.6 million people have been affected by downpours in 89 counties, with the rain also toppling or severely damaging 37,000 houses and rendering 254,000 hectares of crops unharvestable.

The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have dispatched teams to help with relief work.

The ministry also announced that it would send 5,000 tents and 20,000 quilts to help the homeless.

A separate national emergency response plan was issued following a deadly mudslide triggered by heavy rain last Thursday in Sichuan's Ningnan county.

Seven people have been confirmed dead and 33 remain missing as of Wednesday, according to rescue forces responding to the incident.