GUIYANG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Heavy flooding has returned to Rongjiang County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, prompting local authorities to re-activate the highest-level emergency flood response, effective from 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Hydrological forecasts indicate that the Duliu River is expected to reach a peak flood level of 253.5 meters around 5 p.m. on Saturday. This level, which corresponds to a peak flow of 8,360 cubic meters per second, exceeds the guaranteed water level of 251.5 meters.

In response, the local flood control and drought relief headquarters decided to upgrade the flood control emergency response from Level II to Level I, the highest level in the country's four-tier weather warning system.

Local authorities are evacuating residents from affected areas to safer locations.

Since June 24, Rongjiang has been hit by severe flooding due to persistent rainstorms. As of midday on Thursday, six people had died as a result of the floods. ■