China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Guangdong and Guizhou provinces, the lowest level in the country's four-tier emergency response system, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The move came amid forecasts of heavy rainfall across central and eastern China starting Friday. Authorities warned that the weather system is expected to last for an extended period, affect a wide area and bring intense rainfall to some regions, accompanied by severe convective weather such as short-term downpours.

The China Meteorological Administration issued blue alerts for heavy rain and severe convective weather on Friday, the lowest level in the nation's four-tier warning system. The latest round of rainfall is expected to continue through Tuesday.

An interagency meeting convened on Thursday by the headquarters' office and the Ministry of Emergency Management called on local authorities and relevant departments to strengthen flood prevention efforts and prioritize the protection of lives and property. The meeting included officials from meteorological, water resources and natural resources departments, as well as representatives from six key provincial-level regions, including Guangdong, Guizhou and Hunan.

The meeting stressed the need to guard against flash floods and geological disasters by closely monitoring identified risk zones and hidden danger points. Special attention should be paid to high-risk areas such as mountain gullies and narrow flood channels, as well as key locations including nursing homes, construction sites, homestays, reservoirs, embankments, underground spaces, highways, bridges and tunnels.

Authorities were urged to strengthen hazard inspections and risk warnings and promptly evacuate residents in threatened areas when necessary.

The meeting also called for heightened vigilance against flooding in small and medium-sized rivers by improving patrols, monitoring flood conditions and pre-positioning emergency rescue personnel and equipment to ensure early detection and rapid response.

In urban areas, authorities were instructed to step up inspections of low-lying zones, underpasses, subway tunnels and underground spaces, while improving emergency response plans for waterlogging-prone areas and ensuring the availability of drainage and pumping equipment.