BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Thursday launched a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in five provinces, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The emergency measures cover Liaoning, Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, where heavy downpours are forecast from July 3 to 6.

According to meteorological forecasts, parts of Liaoning, eastern regions of northwest China, western parts of the Sichuan Basin, and Yunnan will experience heavy to torrential rainfall during the period. Some areas in Sichuan and Yunnan that have already seen significant precipitation face elevated disaster risks due to accumulated rainfall.

An official of the Ministry of Emergency Management said that emphasis should be placed on prevention and response measures in such vulnerable spots as mountain torrents and geological disasters, the flood-season management of small and medium-sized reservoirs, the flooding of small and medium-sized rivers, and urban and rural waterlogging.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response. ■