RISING WATERS: Heavy rains caused massive flooding in southern China, killing nearly 60 people and displacing more than 1 million. Authorities also fear a major river in northern China may breach its banks causing even more damage.

Just a little more than a month after China's devastating earthquake in Sichuan province, the country faces another crisis. Unusually heavy rains have flooded a number of provinces in southern China, and threaten northern areas as well, including Sichuan. Chinese authorities predict if rains continue, China's second-longest waterway, the Yellow River, will overflow. The floods stretch the country's already-thin disaster relief resources even further.

China's Flood: Quick Facts

Rains Heaviest in Decades, Worse in Guangdong Province near Hong Kong

Although significant rainfall in spring and summer isn't unusual throughout China, experts say this year's rainfall is the highest in decades. The subsequent flooding has caused 57 deaths and forced almost 1.3 million people to evacuate their homes.

Guangdong province has seen the worst flooding:

• 20 people killed
• eight people reported missing
• nearly 5.8 million people in 17 cities affected
• region's worst flooding in 50 years

Meteorologists predict the region's rains won't let up any time soon. Forecasts call for intense rains to continue in areas that already received more than 10 inches in a 24-hour period.

Rising waters submerged streets and homes in Guangdong. Local officials fear the situation getting worse.

"A major flood is feared if rain continues," said Huang Boqing, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters. (BBC, 6/16/08)

Yellow River May Overflow

Chinese officials said the flooding might extend beyond the country's southern provinces.

The 3,400-mile-long Yellow River is China's second longest river. Consistent rains in northern China caused the Yellow River to reach dangerously high water levels, according to China's national meteorological service.

Continuing heavy rains may complicate the Chinese government's attempts to prevent further flooding and provide relief to those already impacted.

The Yellow River is often called "China's Sorrow" because of its long history of epic floods.

Copyright © 2008 Informify

Question for Readers:

If you had to evacuate your home to flee a flood, which of your personal possessions would be hardest to leave behind?