BEIJING, May 3 -- China's Ministry of Water Resources on Friday activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in the three provincial regions of Jiangxi, Hunan and Guangxi due to heavy rainfall over the next three days.

The ministry also maintained a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Guangdong Province.

Parts of China's southwestern, southern and central regions are likely to experience heavy rainfall from Friday to Sunday, which could cause higher water levels at rivers in the Pearl River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin, as well as the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, according to the ministry.

It has urged local authorities to ensure timely monitoring and forecasting and make appropriate use of water conservancy projects.

The ministry has dispatched work teams to Hunan and Guangxi to provide instructions on flood control.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Friday also activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in Guangxi and sent a work team to the region to assist efforts in response to the heavy rain.

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