Rain hits south China, heat scorches north

Heavy rain swept south China and will continue for the next few days, while heat waves scorched the northern regions, the National Meteorological Center said Saturday.

Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China have experienced heavy downpour since June 17. Two people were killed in rainstorms in Yunnan on Saturday, with houses being submerged and bridges collapsed. Heavy rain also triggered landslides and flash floods in some areas.

Rain will continue in Yunnan and Jiangxi, according to the weather observatory.

Meanwhile, a heat wave has scorched northern China. Temperatures climbed above 36 degrees Celsius in Beijing and some parts of neighboring Hebei Province.

Beijing has issued yellow warning for high temperature for Saturday and Sunday.

China has a four-color-coded warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.