BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Fire fighters across the country have rescued a total of 13,456 people stranded in floods since the beginning of the flood season, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management Tuesday.

A total of 26,756 fire fighters have been dispatched in 2,536 rescue missions caused by heavy rainfall, including floods, landslides and building collapses, evacuating 37,967 residents, the ministry said.

The ministry has allocated emergency relief materials to the flood-affected provinces of Hubei, Hunan and Fujian.

To combat floods, 31 local fire fighting departments have formed professional rescue teams equipped with rescue boats, unmanned aerial vehicles and other equipment.