Chinese authorities on Wednesday raised the emergency response for flood control to Level II, the second-highest in the response system, as heavy downpours continued to lash the central province of Henan.

 

Extremely heavy rainfall hit Henan on Tuesday, with precipitation in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, exceeding the highest level on local weather records, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

 

The rainstorm has caused the water level in a reservoir to rise rapidly, said the ministry, adding that all local residents downstream have been relocated in advance.

 

A total of 12 people have been killed in the torrential rains in the downtown area of Zhengzhou, according to local authorities. About 100,000 people have been relocated to safe places.

 

The ministry has dispatched a working team to the affected areas in Henan to help local authorities with disaster relief work.

 

China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.