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The flood in Hanjiang River, Oct.5, 2005. [Xinhua Photo]
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Farmers in a flood diversion area in the lower reaches of the Hanjiang River in central China's Hubei Province, a major tributary of the Yangtze River, move their grain to higher and dry land to prepare for flood diversion October 5, 2005. With continuing heavy rainfalls, water level of the Danjiangkou reservoir keeps rising, forcing the reservoir to discharge at 14,000 cubic meters per second. In order to ensure the safety of Wuhan and other cities along the Hanjiang and Yangtze rivers, flood diversion is planned and villagers in the diversion areas in Dujiatai and Caidian have to move to higher lands. [newsphoto]
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The Yellow River and the biggest tributary of the Yangtze River are still threatened by flooding after sustained heavy rain since late last month.
A lot of water in Hanjiang River, a tributary of the Yangtze, is adding to its middle and lower reaches so water levels keep rising, according to the Hubei Provincial Flood Control Headquarters.
Compared with previous floods, high water level volume has continued for longer, sources said.
Meanwhile, a flood peak with a maximum volume of 4,150 cubic metres per second reached Tongguan Gate of the Yellow River yesterday.
There was still the possibility of flooding along the Hanjiang River yesterday, according to Central China's Hubei Province Governor Luo Qingquan.
Luo urged localities there to keep a close eye on water levels and take necessary measures such as sending adequate manpower to patrol riverbanks during the autumn flood season, Xinhua reported yesterday.
By 8 am yesterday, the water levels monitored at Huangzhuang, Xiantao and Hanchuan hydrological stations rose, respectively, to 47.02 metres, 33.75 metres and 28.2 metres, up by 1.02 metres, 3.08 metres and 2.81 metres from Tuesday.
The water level at the Xiangyang station was 67.19 metres, a drop of 0.07 metres from Tuesday, but still 0.19 metres above the danger line. And the water level at Yicheng station was 57.95 metres, 0.45 metres higher than the danger line.
Hanjiang originates from Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. It flows southeastwardly through the central part of Hubei Province and joins the mighty Yangtze River at Wuhan, capital of Hubei.
Weihe River, the biggest tributary of the Yellow River, has seen flooding in the last few days. It is said to be the most severe since 1981. The peak on Tuesday at the Huaxian County observation station along the Weihe River was 4,820 cubic metres per second.
The Xiaolangdi Reservoir, a major water conservancy and irrigation facility on the Yellow River, has been used since Sunday to conserve floodwater. Industry insiders were optimistic about flood prevention for the lower reaches of the river.
Weather forecasters said the rain will stop in southern parts of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province and western parts of Central China's Henan Province, where the Yellow River passes through.
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