China evacuates residents as heavy rains hit northwest, southwest

China warned of risks from heavy downpours across multiple parts of the country on Monday, with storms ​concentrated in the northwestern Shaanxi and southwestern Sichuan ‌provinces where residents have been evacuated from high-risk areas.

The national forecaster retained its second-highest level precipitation alert for various parts of the ​country on Monday, especially around northwestern Shaanxi, southwestern Chongqing, ​Guizhou and Guangxi, and in southern Guangdong.

The Shaanxi ⁠meteorological observatory raised its storm alert and warned of waterlogging ​and flash floods. Authorities have relocated 87,987 people since July ​30.

Torrential rainfall in the northern parts of the low-lying Sichuan Basin and other areas has triggered eight geological disasters in cities including Yibin, ​Ziyang, Meishan and Guangyuan, CCTV reported.

No casualties have been ​reported but Sichuan authorities evacuated another 40,249 people across 20 cities on ‌Monday ⁠as a preventative measure.

The total number of people relocated for safety in the southwestern province rose to 922,058 since the flooding season began in mid-July, according to CCTV.

The Natural ​Resources Ministry said ​numerous rivers ⁠nationwide have risen above warning levels and issued a red alert for flash floods in ​central Chongqing.

In Yunnan, continuous heavy downpours are ​forecast from ⁠Monday to Thursday, with high risks of flash floods, geological disasters and river flooding.

In China's east, coastal areas can expect ⁠the ​effects of Typhoon Dolphin later this ​week, with wind and rain appearing from Thursday into the weekend, CCTV said.

-Reuters