BEIJING, Aug. 10 -- China's Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level-IV emergency flood response for four provincial regions on Monday, as heavy rainfall brought about by Typhoon Dolphin and a cold air mass is expected in central and northern parts of the country.

The four provinces of Hubei, Henan, Hebei and Shandong will see downpours from Aug. 10 to Aug. 16 amid the 13th typhoon of 2026, with heavy rainstorms expected in some areas, according to forecasts.

To cope with the situation, the ministry has instructed local authorities to strengthen monitoring and research efforts and step up patrols to detect and address potential hazards.

Priority will be given to flood defense along small and medium-sized rivers and the prevention of mountain torrents, according to the ministry. It also stressed the timely evacuation of residents in high-risk areas to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

Meanwhile, the ministry maintained a Level-III emergency response in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, as well as a Level-IV response for six other provincial-level regions across eastern, central and northeastern China.

The ministry's information center on Monday renewed a blue alert for floods, advising the public across affected areas in northern, central and eastern China to take precautions.

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