Areas surrounding the Pearl River, Taihu Lake and the Huaihe River are at risk of flooding in the aftermath of heavy rainfall, according to warnings by flood control authorities.

Following heavy rainfall in southern parts of China from Friday to Wednesday, the rain band will move northeast, leading to heavy downpours in central and eastern parts of China from Thursday to Sunday.

Heavy rainfall will hit Jiangxi and Hunan provinces, raising the possibility of severe flooding in areas surrounding Dongting and Poyang lakes, and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, according to Liu Zhiyu, deputy director of the Ministry of Water Resources' hydrographic bureau.