Hainan, September 13 (Daily Kiran) : In Hainan Province, China, persistent heavy rainfall has prompted the evacuation of more than 31,000 residents from high-risk areas. Fortunately, there have been no reports of significant damage so far.
According to the provincial disaster prevention and relief committee, by Sunday evening, a total of 31,564 individuals had been relocated to safe zones. Rainfall exceeding 300 millimeters was recorded across 24 townships in six cities and counties from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, including areas such as Wanning, Lingshui, and Qionghai.
Wanning’s Changfeng Township experienced the highest rainfall, with 452.1 millimeters reported. The weather department has forecasted additional rain from Sunday evening into Monday.
In response to the flooding, Hainan raised its emergency response level to Level 2 by Sunday morning. By 7 PM that day, Wanning implemented a Level 1 emergency response, the highest tier in China’s four-level emergency response system. Meanwhile, Level 2 emergency responses were activated in Qionghai, Qiongzhong, Wuzhishan, Baoting, and Lingshui.
Schools in the affected six cities and counties have been ordered to close, and several tourist sites in eight cities and counties have also been shut down. Traffic controls have been enforced on impacted roads.
Authorities have pre-deployed firefighting and rescue teams in critical areas. Additional personnel and drainage equipment have been dispatched to Wanning, Qionghai, and Lingshui.
The electricity and telecommunications departments are on standby, equipped with necessary supplies for emergency repairs.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued a blue alert due to the risk of sudden flooding in parts of southeastern Hainan. A yellow alert was also issued for potential geological disaster risks in some areas.
Local officials are continuously monitoring rainfall and water levels. Measures are being taken to manage reservoir operations and prevent flooding, urban waterlogging, geological disasters, and the inundation of roads and bridges.
Earlier, on August 22, the Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level 4 emergency response for flooding in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, anticipating heavy rains from Typhoon Noru, the 19th storm of the year.
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