Torrential downpours batter south China's Guangxi

NANNING, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rainfall lashed south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Friday and Saturday, prompting emergency response efforts, local authorities said.

In Beiliu City, eastern Guangxi, the torrential rain left one person dead, and more than 1,700 residents were evacuated.

The regional meteorological bureau forecasted continued heavy to torrential rainfall across northern and central parts of the region through Sunday.

The adverse weather prompted the bureau to issue a blue-level rainstorm alert at 11 a.m. on Saturday and launch a Level IV emergency response.

China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. The emergency response system also has four tiers, with Level I being the most severe. Enditem