Beijing, June 18 (SANA)Authorities in southernChina‘s Guangdong province have evacuated nearly 40,000 people after days of heavyrainfallprompted flood-control measures and disrupted transportation and schools across parts of the region, state media reported on Thursday.

Provincial authorities activated a Level III emergency response for flood prevention and a Level IV disaster-relief response as severe weather continued to affect several areas, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Theevacuationscame as torrential rain increased the risk of flooding and other weather-related hazards in one of China’s most populous and economically important provinces.

Several cities suspended classes and adjusted train schedules to reduce risks associated with the storms, while emergency services deployed personnel and equipment to key locations. Fire and rescue teams placed trucks, rescue boats and other resources on standby to respond to potential emergencies.

Meteorological authoritiesforecast that heavy rain would continue across southern parts of Guangdong through Thursday before gradually weakening on Friday and Saturday.

China frequently experiences severe flooding during the summer rainy season, particularly in southern and central regions, where heavy rainfall can disrupt transportation, damage infrastructure and force large-scale evacuations.

No immediate reports of fatalities or major injuries were released by local authorities.