China activates Level IV emergency response in rain-hit Hainan

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Vehicles running in heavy rain in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province, September 13, 2026. /VCG

China's National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief and the Ministry of Emergency Management on Tuesday activated a Level IV disaster relief emergency response for south China's Hainan Province following the severe impact of recent heavy rainfall.

A working group has been dispatched to the affected areas to assess damage, and guide and assist local authorities in carrying out disaster relief work, including verifying the situation, evacuating and resettling affected people, and ensuring the basic living conditions of those affected.

The Hainan Meteorological Service lifted its Level III rainstorm warning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday as rainfall intensity and coverage across Hainan Island significantly decreased.

Forecasts showed that over the next 24 hours, parts of western Hainan Island could still experience heavy rain or rainstorms, while other areas would see cloudy skies with showers or thunderstorms.

Meteorological authorities said the island's extreme rainfall had largely ended, but warned that the prolonged period of heavy precipitation had left soil moisture levels high. Some secondary disaster may emerge with a delay, and potential risks of geological hazards require continued attention.

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