Critical flood response underway in South China

While northern China is experiencing scorching heat, southern regions are grappling with severe flooding. As of June 18, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have entered the Meiyu season, a period characterized by heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings, emphasizing the need for continuous vigilance in flood prevention.

Chu Minghua, deputy director of the Ministry of Water Resources' Disaster Reduction Center, said that although the previous flood in the Han River has subsided, floodwaters in the Xijiang River are still rising.

Chu outlined several key tasks that need immediate attention.

Key water conservancy projects in the Xijiang River must maximize their flood interception and peak reduction capabilities to alleviate downstream pressure.

Continuous heavy rainfall has saturated the soil in some areas, which demands constant vigilance, she said.

The saturated land has heightened the risk of flash floods and geological disasters. Enhanced monitoring and early warning systems are crucial to ensure timely evacuations and safeguard lives.

There is a need for rigorous inspection and maintenance of dikes, especially during the recession period, to prevent slippage and collapse, she said.

Swift restoration of water conservancy projects damaged in previous floods is necessary to quickly reinstate their flood control functions, she said.

Chu highlighted that scientifically planning reservoirs, dikes, rivers, and flood detention areas to enhance overall flood control capacity is essential. For example, during the recent Han River flood, coordinated management of upstream reservoirs such as Tingjiang and Meijiang retained about 470 million cubic meters of floodwater, reducing the peak water level at Sanhe Dam by approximately 3 meters and significantly easing flood pressure along the river.