Huaihe River enters critical period of flood control

Around 200 cargo ships were jammed in the approach channel at the Bengbu lock on the Huaihe River on Monday, due to high water levels along the waterway caused by floods further upstream. The Bengbu lock arranged the ships to anchor beside the gate, before the water level recedes under safe lines. [Photo: Xinhua]
July 25 - The water level of the swollen Huaihe River remains dangerously high and will probably rise again due to rain in the upper reaches of the river, local flood control authorities warned.
The water level at Wangjiaba, a key hydrological station of the river in Anhui, was 27.54 meters, or 0.04 meters higher than the warning line with downstream sections 0.8 to 1.4 meters higher than the warning line, according to the Anhui Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
Moderate to heavy rain hit parts of Anhui and Henan provinces Monday and Tuesday, and was forecast to continue until Wednesday, which would cause the river's water to rise again and remain high for longer time, said an official with the headquarters.
About 660,000 people in Anhui have been displaced since July due to floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain.
Ten floodwater storage areas have been commissioned to ease the flood control pressure of the river, causing an evacuation of more than 10,000 people.
Officials said the flood control pressure will continue as the dikes face an increased risk of being breached after soaking in high water for more than 20 days.
Around 800,000 army troops and local residents have been working to reinforce the embankments of the river to prevent further flooding.