All residents in Jiangwan township of Shaoguan, Guangdong province, one of the areas hardest-hit by heavy rainfall over the past several days, had been evacuated to safety by Wednesday night, as a new deluge began to assault the city.

As of 8 pm on Wednesday, rescue workers had transported 1,514 affected people out of the township by bus and helicopter, following warnings of additional heavy rain on the way that would last until Friday, local authorities said.

Heavy downpours in the township over the past several days have resulted in extremely high soil moisture content, bringing a risk of landslides, local meteorological authorities said

"I have never seen such heavy rain in my life, nor have people older than me," said a 72-year-old resident surnamed Jiang.

READ MORE: 3 dead, 11 missing in Guangdong rainstorm

Telecommunication and power supplies in Jiangwan were temporarily suspended during the heavy downpours. Houses collapsed and roads were blocked.

During intermittent pauses in the rain, Jiang, from Huyang village, and several dozen other residents helped each cross a river to the center area of the township on Wednesday morning, guided by ropes. An essential bridge leading to the central area had been washed away by powerful floodwaters.

Heavy downpours in the township over the past several days have resulted in extremely high soil moisture content, bringing a risk of landslides, local meteorological authorities said.

The new round of heavy rainfall starting on Wednesday night is expected to overlap with the previous precipitation, significantly increasing the risk of geological disasters. So it is crucial to be vigilant against the secondary disasters such as flash floods, landsides and building collapses, the meteorological authorities said.

China's Ministry of Water Resources is intensifying precautionary measures against flooding as heavy rain continues to lash southern China.

The ministry has forecasted heavy rainfall to continue across the country's southern and southwestern regions from Wednesday to Friday, with rainstorms hitting parts of the Pearl River basin.

Affected by heavy downpours, water levels in three of the basin's rivers -- the Beijiang, Dongjiang and Hanjiang rivers -- are expected to exceed warning levels, the ministry said

Affected by heavy downpours, water levels in three of the basin's rivers -- the Beijiang, Dongjiang and Hanjiang rivers -- are expected to exceed warning levels, the ministry said.

READ MORE: Flooded Guangdong acts swiftly

The ministry has strengthened forecasts, early warnings and contingency measures in flood prevention work and carried out real-time monitoring of reservoirs and waterways in the Pearl River basin.

As rainstorms add risk of floods and mountain torrents in some small and medium-sized rivers in Beijiang River, the ministry will monitor the weather closely and strengthen consultation, research and information transmission.

The current situation in the Beijiang, Dongjiang and Hanjiang rivers remains generally stable. As heavy rainfall continues, more flood-control measures in the Pearl River Basin are underway, the ministry said.

With Xinhua inputs