GUANGZHOU - Heavy rain disrupted air traffic in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Friday.

At least 118 flights out of the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in the capital of Guangdong province were delayed by over one hour. Meanwhile, 93 flights were cancelled and one flight was diverted to another airport by 10:30 pm,?it said.

The airport issued a red alert, the first time the highest warning has been issued this year, for air traffic disruption.

The rain abated in the evening, but traffic controls were still in place due to strong convective weather in neighboring regions, the airport said.