As China battles against severe rain-induced floods causing devastation in the country's southern and central regions, rescue efforts continue unabated.

Torrential downpours that began Monday (July 3) have claimed 15 lives and left four people missing in the southwestern Chongqing Municipality, according to local authorities, with the status as of Wednesday (July 5) at 7:00 am.

Speaking from Wanzhou District in Chongqing, Xinhua correspondent, Yang Shiyan, reported: "Relentless rainfall continues to inflict heavy casualties and substantial property damage in Chongqing, among other southwestern regions of China. The authorities are prioritizing the safety of citizens and their properties, striving to mitigate the damage in their flood prevention and disaster relief efforts."

To expedite relief operations, the city's emergency response headquarters has escalated the relief response to Level III, disbursing over 29,000 essential items, such as tents, blankets, and foldable beds, to Wanzhou District, the worst-affected area which has experienced record-breaking rainfall levels.

In a boost to the relief efforts, the central government allocated a sum of 320 million yuan (approximately 44.46 million U.S. dollars) on Wednesday from its central natural-disaster relief fund. This crucial aid will be channelled towards assisting flood and geological disaster relief work in regions including Chongqing and Sichuan.

STORY: China battling extreme weather as rains take toll
DATELINE: July 5, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:03
LOCATION: CHONGQING, China
CATEGORY: OTHERS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Chongqing
2. STANDUP (English): YANG SHIYAN, Xinhua correspondent

STORYLINE:

China is making ongoing efforts to battle extreme weather, as rain-triggered floods wreak havoc in southern and central parts of the country.

The latest round of torrential rains since Monday had killed 15 people and left four others missing in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, local authorities said.

STANDUP (English): YANG SHIYAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Now I am at Wanzhou District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Continuous heavy rainfall hit regions including southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, causing heavy casualties and property losses. Now authorities at all levels have given top priority to ensuring people's safety and property, and strived to minimize various losses in the work regarding flood prevention and disaster relief.
The city's emergency response headquarters office has raised the relief response to Level III, allocating more than 29,000 items of disaster relief supplies, including tents, blankets and folding beds, to Wanzhou District, the hardest-hit area, where record-high rainfall was seen.
China earmarked 320 million yuan (about 44.46 million U.S. dollars) on Wednesday from its central natural-disaster relief funds to support flood and geological disaster relief work in regions including Chongqing and Sichuan."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Chongqing, China.
(XHTV)