Ministry warns of heavy rainfall, flooding in northern regions

The Ministry of Water Resources has issued a heavy rainfall alert in eastern part of Northwest China and central part of North China in the coming four days, underscoring the potential for severe flooding in multiple watercourses and mountain torrents.

From Saturday to Tuesday, the two regions are bracing for moderate to heavy rainfall, with some areas experiencing torrential downpours, the ministry said in a press release on Friday.

The precipitation will swell the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River and make water levels in some of its sections and tributaries — including the Fenhe and Wuding rivers — rise above their warning marks for flood control, it said.

It has especially highlighted flood control risks in small and medium-sized reservoirs and possible occurrence of mountain torrents in areas affected by the rainfall.

In response to potential flood risks, the ministry convened a meeting on Friday to assess the situation and make arrangement for flood prevention work. Flood control authorities in five provinces and regions — Ningxia Hui and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions, and Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces — have been notified to implement immediate precautionary measures.

The ministry has dispatched work teams to Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Inner Mongolia to provide guidance on local flood prevention efforts, it said.