The Chongqing Municipal Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for the heaviest ever rainstorm this summer at 17:30 on Sunday. A contingency plan was also released to cope with it.

According to the forecast, heavy rainfall, even rainstorm-scaled in some areas, will sweep from west to east Chongqing covering a large areas from Sunday night to Monday daytime. The amount of the rainfall will reach 100-150 millimeters while some areas will exceed 200 millimeters.

38 towns and villages in 7 counties of the municipality have been severely hit by the rainstorm since Saturday, and the affected population reached 196,500 with one person missing. The direct economic loss is expected to be 127.02 million yuan (about $18 million).

The relevant local authorities have kept a close eye on the rainfall amount and flood risk of rivers and reservoirs. Preparation works have been carried out to prevent the geological disaster.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Chongqing.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2009)