BEIJING - China's national observatory on Monday issued this year's first red alert for rainstorms, the highest level in the country's weather warning system, with different provinces implementing various measures to battle the extreme weather.

The National Meteorological Center at 10 am Monday issued a red alert for rainstorms, which was later maintained at 6 pm, forecasting heavy rains in the provincial-level regions of Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Guangxi.

The country's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Monday raised emergency responses to flooding to Level III in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi.

READ MORE: 4 dead, 1 missing in Central China rainstorms

China has a four-tier flood-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most urgent response and a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

One more work team will be sent to Zhejiang to assist in local flood prevention efforts, the headquarters said.

In response to the weather warning, the Xin'anjiang Reservoir, built on the upper reaches of the Qiantang River in Zhejiang province, opened five of its nine floodgates at 3:30 pm Monday

Work teams dispatched to Anhui and Jiangxi will continue their work there, according to the headquarters.

Torrential rains have triggered mountain torrents in Yuanling county in central China's Hunan province, leaving five people dead, authorities said on Tuesday.

Yuanling county initially reported four deaths and one person missing on Monday. The body of the missing individual was retrieved earlier on Tuesday, according to the county's emergency management department.

Yuanling county saw record rainfall in Wuqiangxi town from 2 am to 8 am on Saturday, with precipitation reaching 337.8 mm. The heavy rains triggered mountain torrents and caused severe waterlogging in the town.

In response to the disaster, the county has activated emergency measures, organizing efforts to ensure the availability of necessary supplies and the restoration of power, telecommunications and transportation services. 

On Monday, the provincial capital Changsha saw 15 waterlogged roads after intense rain. The city's subway Line 2 and Line 3 have suspended operations.

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In response to the weather warning, the Xin'anjiang Reservoir, built on the upper reaches of the Qiantang River in Zhejiang province, opened five of its nine floodgates at 3:30 pm Monday, according to the provincial water resources department.

As the largest reservoir in east China, the Xin'anjiang Reservoir plays a vital role in flood control in the Qiantang River area.

In the neighboring Anhui province, the provincial authorities activated red alerts for mountain torrents and geological disasters in three county-level areas in the city of Huangshan, expecting a high probability of mountain torrents and geological disasters from 8 pm Monday to 8 pm Tuesday.

Heavy rain has battered the city of Huangshan since June 18, with the water levels of 99 of its 188 reservoirs recorded above the danger level as of 5 pm Sunday. The lives of over 400,000 residents had been affected and 54,109 people had been evacuated as of 3 pm Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, China's flood control efforts have entered a critical phase, with 33 rivers nationwide exceeding warning levels by Monday

By Monday morning, a total of 43 national A-level tourist attractions in Huangshan had been temporarily shut due to the extreme weather. Mount Huangshan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its magnificent natural beauty, has been partially closed since June 20, with the reopening date depending on weather conditions.  

READ MORE: 1 killed, 7 missing after landslide in rain-drenched Central China county

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, China's flood control efforts have entered a critical phase, with 33 rivers nationwide exceeding warning levels by Monday.

Twenty-two rivers in Jiangxi, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang and Guizhou have reported floods exceeding alert marks. Meanwhile, 11 rivers in Heilongjiang province saw above warning-line floods.

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Monday raised the emergency responses to flooding to Level III in the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan, following the decision by the national observatory to issue red alerts for rainstorms in these areas.

One more work team will be sent to Zhejiang to assist in local flood prevention efforts, said the State's Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, adding that work teams dispatched to Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan will continue their work there

The flood prevention situation of the Yangtze River basin has become rather stern, as water levels in the tributaries of the Poyang Lake basin have exceeded warning levels, and the water level in the mainstream of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River continued to rise, according to the Changjiang Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources.

ALSO READ: Heavy rains leave 38 dead, 2 missing in Guangdong county

Over the following 10 days, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will experience extreme heavy rainfall, potentially causing flooding in both tributaries and the mainstream, according to the commission's forecast.

China is sparing no efforts in combating the flooding. The local governments have decided to increase the outflow of the Three Gorges Reservoir, starting from Tuesday, in preparation for subsequent floods.

One more work team will be sent to Zhejiang to assist in local flood prevention efforts, said the State's Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, adding that work teams dispatched to Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan will continue their work there.