CHANGCHUN, Aug. 2 -- Meteorological authorities in Changchun, the capital city of northeast China's Jilin Province, issued a red alert, the highest-level warning for rainstorms, at 8:13 p.m. Wednesday.

Many other localities in Jilin Province have been on red alert since rains -- and rainstorms in some townships -- began battering the province at midday on Tuesday.

The provincial meteorological authorities said that as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, hourly precipitation exceeding 20 millimeters has been recorded 195 times across the province, with the highest hourly precipitation recorded at 108.8 millimeters. Heavy downpours exceeding 50 millimeters per hour have lashed some townships in the province and are likely to continue.