The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters activated a level-two emergency response plan on Friday as a new round of heavy rain was expected to hit southern China.

This was an upgrade from the previous plan issued on May 30 when southern areas were hit by torrential rain killing 64.

The National Meteorological Center said on Friday heavy rain would be expected over the next three days in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Hubei and Guangdong provinces, Chongqing municipality and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.