BEIJING, July 30 -- China's Ministry of Water Resources on Sunday upgraded the emergency response measures in the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei region to the second-highest level to guard against floods as rainstorms swept the areas.

The emergency response was elevated to Level II from Level III in China's four-tier flood-control emergency response system at 12 p.m. Sunday, according to the ministry.

Several rivers in the region are expected to see floods as heavy rainfalls are forecast in most parts of the Haihe River basin from Sunday to Monday, the ministry said in a statement available on its website.

It has called on local governments to immediately activate emergency response and get ready to put floodwater detention and retention areas into use.

Authorities should closely monitor the weather, update forecasts on the rainfalls and water levels, and strengthen consultation, research and information transmission, the ministry said.

It also urged sound operation of water projects, full use of major reservoirs to retard flooding, better inspection and protection of dikes, among other efforts, to go all out to protect people's lives and property.