Torrential rain and ensuing landslides have claimed at least 35 lives in south China's Guangdong Province, said the provincial flood control office Thursday.

The office also said that more than 540,000 people in the province were affected by floods.

The province started an A-grade flood alert response mechanism Thursday after the water level of the Xijiang River, a major tributary to the Pearl River, reached 12.53 meters, 2.53 meters above the warning line.

Weather forecast said that torrential rain will sweep the Pearl River Delta area and other coastal areas of the province in the coming day.

The provincial education department issued an emergency notice urging schools to have safety checks and suspend classes if any threat is spotted.
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(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2005)