China issues orange alert for rainstorms

China's national observatory on Tuesday issued an orange alert for rainstorms, as heavy downpours are forecast to hit vast stretches of the country.

From Tuesday night to Wednesday night, heavy rain and rainstorms are expected in Hubei, Anhui, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, among other regions, the National Meteorological Center said, warning that some areas of Hubei, Jiangxi and Anhui will experience downpours with up to 280 mm of daily rainfall.

Some of the aforementioned regions will see up to 80 mm of hourly precipitation, accompanied by sporadic thunderstorms and strong winds, the center said.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The center advised local authorities to remain alert for possible flooding, landslides and mudslides, and recommended halting outdoor operations in hazardous areas.

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, and the waters of many rivers in the affected regions exceeded warning levels.

The Ministry of Water Resources has called for all-out efforts to prevent floods, and has dispatched teams to affected areas to facilitate flood prevention and control.