Heavy rain disrupts traffic, affects daily life in south China
暴雨擾亂華南地區交通 影響日常生活

Several counties and cities in south China have been battered by yet more heavy downpours that started again this week. Among the most heavily hit areas are Leishan County in Guizhou Province, Ninghua County in Fujian, and Lufeng City in Guangdong. The heavy rain has led to heavy traffic, as well as power and water shortages.

Heavy rain started Tuesday in Leishan County of southwest China's Guizhou Province. The province was hit by around 160 millimeters of rainfall per hour, almost one-seventh of the normal annual amount. The downpours damaged highways, disrupted traffic and led to some being rescued.

Local authorities dispatched traffic police officers to control the traffic and take residents to safety. Water and power supplies, as well as communication networks, resumed on Wednesday.

On May 19, heavy rain hit Ninghua County in east China's Fujian Province.

The downpours damaged 18 bridges and roads in 63 villages of nine townships.
Armed police officers and heavy machinery were sent to repair and clear the bridges and roads.

Traffic was resumed on Tuesday afternoon. The local traffic department says they will continue their efforts to ensure the safety of local people.

Rainstorms hit Lufeng City in south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday. Precipitation in some places exceeded 100 millimeters in three hours. School classes were suspended in the afternoon due to the downpours.

The local meteorological department has issued a red alert for the storms and predicts yet more rainfall to hit in the region.