China’s state flood control headquarters issues Level IV emergency flood response in four regions

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issues Level IV emergency flood response in four regions

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued a Level IV emergency response for flood prevention in Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Chongqing at 3:00 pm on Saturday. Work teams have been dispatched to the front lines in Anhui and Hubei provinces to assist and guide flood control efforts, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

Photo: VCG

Also on Saturday, Ministry of Water Resources initiated a Level IV flood-control emergency response in five provinces (municipalities) including Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, while maintaining a Level IV emergency response for flood prevention in Anhui and Gansu provinces. 

According to forecasts, from August 9 to 11, heavy to torrential rain is forecast in areas including Sichuan, Chongqing, southern and central Anhui, southern and central Henan, eastern Hubei, southern Gansu, and southern Shaanxi, with some areas experiencing extreme downpours, the ministry stated. 

As a result, significant rises in water levels are expected in the upper Yangtze River's main stream and tributaries, including the Minjiang River, Tuojiang River, and Jialing River, as well as in the middle reaches tributaries such as the Hanjiang River, according to the ministry. 

The Huaihe River's main stream and southern tributaries, including the Huanghe, Shiguan, and Peihe rivers, will also see noticeable increases in water levels. Some small and medium-sized rivers in the heavy rain areas may experience flooding above warning levels.

Li Guoying, Deputy Commander of the National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and Minister of Water Resources, has called for stronger monitoring and early warning of rainfall, water conditions, and flood situations, as well as the implementation of detailed prevention measures to safeguard lives and property. 

On Saturday morning, the ministry held a meeting to further coordinate flood-control efforts in response to the heavy rain.

Local water resource departments and basin management agencies must overcome complacency, strengthen flood-prevention responsibilities, maintain emergency duty and monitoring, continuously conduct rainfall monitoring and forecasting, timely release warning information, scientifically and precisely schedule water projects, according to the ministry.

They must also ensure reservoir and construction-site safety during the flood season, prepare for localized waterlogging prevention and response, focus on flood prevention for small and medium-sized rivers and mountain flood disasters, and relocate residents from hazardous areas in advance, the ministry said. 

Working groups from the ministry have arrived in Gansu Province to assess flash floods and provide decision-making support for future disaster prevention, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. 

Since Thursday, mountain torrents in Gansu  have left 10 people dead and 33 missing as of 3:30 pm Friday.

The heaviest rainfall in Yuzhong county's flash flood hit the Xinglong Mountain area, severely damaging several villages. Multiple departments are working urgently to repair damaged road sections, CCTV reported.

Relocation and relief work is underway. As of now, 54 hotels have been requisitioned, and 14 centralized shelters—including schools and village administrative centers—have been established, housing nearly 10,000 people, CCTV reported.

(Global Times)