Photo: CFP

China's National Meteorological Center on Saturday extended a yellow alert for rainstorms as many regions across North and Central China, including Beijing, Tianjin and Henan Province as well as South China, including Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions were battered by heavy downpours. Some areas within these regions are forecasting maximum hourly precipitation exceeding 50 millimeters, along with severe convective weather, such as thunderstorms and gales.

The center also issued guidelines, advising local governments to prepare for rainstorms, and traffic management departments to implement proper traffic control measures in areas hit by heavy downpours. 

Since Friday morning, Beijing has experienced moderate to heavy rain with the average rainfall in the city recorded at 30.2 millimeters, while urban areas averaged 45.6 millimeters. The most intense rainfall occurred at Daxinfeng in Changping District, with 43.5 millimeters per hour from 18:00 to 19:00 on Friday. 

On Saturday, the Beijing flood control office issued a reminder, confirming that there will still be moderate to heavy rain on Saturday, with a high risk of geological disasters. It urged local residents to avoid waterlogged roads, refrain from visiting mountainous areas and rivers, and stay away from dangerous areas prone to flash flooding and geological disasters. 

From Thursday to Saturday, torrential rain battered many areas of Guangdong, causing some cities and counties to experience urban waterlogging. The average rainfall in areas such as Luohu, Futian, and Longgang districts in Shenzhen exceeded 200 millimeters, according to local media reports. 

Local officials have gone door-to-door to relocate residents to designated shelters.  More than 80,000 people in dangerous areas have been evacuated in advance throughout Guangdong Province.

The HKSAR government on Friday night announced the removal of "extreme conditions" warnings at midnight after the city was hit by what officials described as a "once in 500 years" rainstorms that triggered flooding and landslides, resulting in two deaths and more than 140 injuries. 

Public transportation, including the MTR, resumed full service on Saturday. Hong Kong's Hospital Authority announced it would resume outpatient clinics, specialist outpatient clinics, allied health services and other day services on Saturday, local media reported. 

Global Times