BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China’s disaster relief authorities launched a level III emergency response plan Saturday to help flood victims.

　　新华社北京7月1日电 为了帮助洪水灾民，中国防灾部门周六启动了III级应急响应。

　　The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has dispatched eight work teams to south China’s flood stricken areas to guide relief work, the office said in a statement.

　　国家防汛抗旱总指挥部办公室在声明中表示，已经派遣8个工作队前往南方洪灾地区指挥救援工作。

　　Severe floods hit the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River in recent days, as well as some nearby rivers and lakes.

　　近日，洪水席卷了长江中上游地区和附近的一些河流与湖泊。

　　More than 260,000 people have been displaced after heavy rain in central China’s Hunan Province since June 22, said the provincial flood control office late Friday.

　　省防汛办公室周五晚间表示 ，自6月22日中国中部湖南省遭遇暴雨后，逾26万人已被转移。

　　Under a level III emergency response plan, the office must report to the State Council within two hours and dispatch a work team to the disaster zone within 24 hours.

　　在三级应急响应下，办公室必须在2个小时内上报国务院，在24个小时内派遣1个工作队前往受灾地区。