国内英语新闻:China to battle storms following heat wave

In neighboring Anhui, the provincial government called an emergency meeting Thursday night to discuss plans to counter damage from what officials said might be the worst storm to hit parts of Anhui in a decade.

Zhai Wuquan, head of Anhui provincial weather forecast bureau, said the intensified heavy rainfall from July 8 to 11 might cause floods in cities and mudflows and landslides in mountainous areas.

Anhui officials said a part of the Yangtze River that flows through the province is brimming with water. The water level of the Wan River had gone about one meter above the warning line. Dikes that have been under great pressure might also burst amidst heavy rainfall.

People drag their carts to wade through the heavily-inundated farm produces bazaar, in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, June 29, 2010. Over an hour's heavy downpour pounded Hefei Tuesday afternoon and left some streets severely waterlogged.

This follows a heat wave last week that had scorched large parts of China, breaking heat records -- including a 50-year record in Beijing -- and pushing up air-conditioner sales and electricity consumption in cities.

Weather forecast authorities said soon after the rain brought relief from heat, storms are about to strike.