Did Rainstorms Prompt the Evacuation of Over 15,000 Residents in China's Chongqing?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Over 15,000 residents evacuated due to severe rainstorms.
- Heaviest rain recorded at 167 mm in Hechuan District.
- Emergency measures activated in Sichuan Province.
- Continued rainfall expected across Chongqing.
- China's four-tier weather warning system in effect.
Chongqing, Aug 11 (NationPress) Severe rainfall has led to the evacuation of over 15,000 residents in the Chongqing Municipality of southwest China, as reported by local authorities on Monday.
The municipal meteorological department indicated that intense downpours affected 16 districts and counties in Chongqing from 7 a.m. on Sunday until 7 a.m. on Monday. The most significant rainfall was recorded in Hechuan District, where it reached 167 mm.
As of 6 a.m. on Monday, more than 15,000 individuals had been successfully evacuated according to the municipal emergency management department.
Forecasts from the municipal meteorological observatory and hydrological monitoring station predict continued heavy to torrential rain across various areas of Chongqing throughout Monday, affecting the central urban area, as well as the central and southeastern regions and the southern part of the northeastern section.
Between 8 a.m. on Monday and 8 a.m. on Wednesday, many small and medium-sized rivers in Chongqing are expected to see rising water levels, as reported by Xinhua.
On August 10, China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters had activated a Level-IV emergency response for flood control in Sichuan Province.
This action followed meteorological predictions of moderate to heavy rainfall, with some areas anticipating heavy to torrential rains, throughout the Sichuan Basin from Sunday to Tuesday.
The national observatory had also renewed a yellow alert for rainstorms on Sunday, warning of heavy rain and torrential showers expected from 8:00 a.m. Sunday to 8:00 a.m. Monday across extensive regions, including parts of Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Heilongjiang.
Some areas were forecasted to experience short bursts of heavy rainfall, with maximum hourly precipitation potentially exceeding 80 mm, along with thunderstorms and strong winds.
China employs a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, where red indicates the most severe conditions, followed by orange, yellow, and blue. The emergency response framework also has four levels, with Level I being the most critical.