BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Chinese armed police have been mobilized for flood relief in provinces affected by Typhoon Maria and heavy rainfall in the country's central and southern regions.

Among them, 1,330 were dispatched to facilitate relief in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces Wednesday, while another 831 were sent to Sichuan Province, the armed police force announced Thursday.

A total of 2,147 residents have been evacuated in the three provinces.

The armed police have been put on high alert for possible emergencies and ordered to be ready to carry out rescue missions.

Typhoon Maria, the eighth this year, made landfall in Fujian on Wednesday morning. It is expected to affect provinces including Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Hunan, and to bring downpours covering vast areas.