BEIJING - The Chinese government on Tuesday upgraded its emergency response level for the recent floods in southwest Guizhou province to level III, the third highest level of China's national emergency response system.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a press release that it lifted the level from level IV to level III and has dispatched its vice minister Jiang Li to lead a working team on behalf of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, to investigate disaster situation and guide relief efforts in affected area.

Rainstorms have rocked China's southwest Guizhou province since June 3, causing floods that have left 14 dead and 53 missing as of Tuesday morning.

A total of 98,000 people have been evacuated from flooded areas and more than 2,800 buildings have been destroyed by the flood waters.