The Yangtze River reached flood stage in its upper reaches for the first time this year on Friday because of heavy rainfall, but the Three Gorges Dam has captured the flow and mitigated flooding downstream, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Head-quarters.

Heavy rains will linger in southern and southwestern regions, affecting the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers until Monday, it said.

Three Gorges Dam, in Yichang, Hubei province, experienced peak inflows of 50,000 cubic meters per second at 2 pm Friday, marking the first flood coming in the Yangtze River in 2016, the flood control headquarters said. But the dam was able to capture much of the water and cut outflow to 31,000 cubic meters per second.

That prevented the sudden rises in water levels for the middle and downstream areas that can be disastrous, the headquarters said on Friday, although flooding was still occurring downstream because of heavy rain in those areas.

The Three Gorges Dam, with the height of 185 meters, usually brings its water level down to 145 meters, a safe level to cope with typical runoff before flood season. The level had risen to a little over 148 meters by 2 pm Friday.

In addition to the Yangtze, the Huaihe River, is drawing warnings from the authorities. People can expect heavy rain until Monday and are urged to prepare for floods, said Zhang Zuqiang, spokesman for the weather administration, on Friday.

"Then the storm front will move north, where it will last from July 6 to 9," Zhang said.

China has experienced 23 percent more rainfall than average since the start of flood season on March 21, making this season the heaviest since 1954, Zhang said.

He added that the vast southern regions have been hit by torrential rains and storms not only more frequently but with greater force.

Xu Wei contributed to this story.

At least 11 dead, 13 missing

At least 11 people were killed and 13 went missing when a rain-triggered landslide buried 31 people by 7pm on Friday in Guizhou province.

The landslide happened around 5:30 am in Pianpo village in Dafang county of Bijie, officials said.

Rescuers found eight people still alive and rushed them to the hospital.

The local government immediately set up an on-site rescue headquarters and dispatched firefighters, armed police, public security personnel, health workers and others to aid in the rescue effort.

Nearby residents were relocated.

According to the Sina Weibo account of the fire department under the Ministry of Public Security, that can find life signs, as well as rescue dogs have, identified two sites with possible survivors.

Rescue work was carried out using heavy excavating equipment.

At least 21 firefighters, 150 volunteers and 13 rescuing dogs were sent to the village.

Rainstorms have battered the region over several days. According to the Central Meteorological Station, rainfall in Dafang county reached 50 mm to 185 mm since Sunday.

zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn

Xiong Canhua surveys the scene where seven of his relatives died in a landslide on Friday. The landslide occurred in Pianpo village of Bijie, Guizhou province, on Friday. Another three of Xiong’s relatives were injured. Provided To China Daily