Over 3,800 evacuated after dike breach in Central China

A dike breach occurred at a river in Xiangtan, Hunan province on Sunday night, according to media reports.

The breach occurred at Juanshui River around 8 pm on Sunday as the river water ran over the dike. The breach has widened to 77 meters as of 3:58 am on Monday, according to China Central Television.

The river's water level was 0.3 meters higher than the historic highest level as heavy rainfall has battered the Xiangjiang River region since Friday in the wake of Typhoon Gaemi.

The Juanshui River is a tributary of the Xiangjiang River, dubbed the mother river of Hunan province. Xiangjiang River issued its fourth flood warning of this year on Sunday night.

More than 3,800 local residents have been transferred and there has been no immediate report of casualties and injuries due to the incident, Hunan Daily reported.

More than 1,200 first respondents and more than 1,000 local officials have been dispatched in the search and rescue efforts, which are still underway.

Four local schools are used as temporary shelters. Efforts to seal the breach and transfer people are ongoing.

Office of the National Committee for Disaster Reduction and Relief, along with the Ministry of Emergency Management and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration have sent 15,000 pieces of bed sheets, summer quilt and family emergency bags to affected people in Xiangtan.