Heavy rains in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality swelled the Meijiang River above flood warning levels on Sunday, flooding low-lying areas and forcing emergency crews to evacuate residents.
The downpour triggered the river's second flood of the year in Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, where water levels peaked at 342.4 meters, 0.93 meters above the warning mark, flooding riverside homes before authorities went door to door to assist evacuations.
As of Monday morning, the river had receded to 338.48 meters, nearly three meters below the warning level, easing immediate risks.
Meteorological officials, however, urged residents to avoid non-essential outings and warned departments to stay alert for secondary disasters such as flash floods and landslides.
Heavy downpours trigger floods in Chongqing, residents evacuated
The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's hospital ship Auspicious Ark arrived at Ghana's eastern port Tema on Friday to begin a seven-day goodwill visit and medical mission.
This is the first visit by a Chinese naval hospital ship to the West African country.
A grand welcoming ceremony was held at the dock. Ghanaian military and government officials, staff of the Chinese Embassy, and representatives of the Chinese community and Chinese-funded enterprises in Ghana attended the event. Participants held banners and waved national flags of China and Ghana to welcome the ship, while the Ghanaian side staged a military band parade to express their hospitality.
Following the ceremony, Ghanaian government and military officials, together with China's ambassador to Ghana, defense attache and embassy staff, toured the ship and held discussions with members of the mission.
China and Ghana established diplomatic ties in July 1960 and upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership in September 2024.
During the seven-day visit, in addition to providing medical services, the hospital ship will carry out various exchange activities to further enhance friendship and trust between the two countries.
Chinese Navy hospital ship arrives in Ghana on medical mission
