Flood forces evacuation of 53,800 in east China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-03 19:20

HEFEI -- Torrential rains from Thursday to Saturday have left two people dead and resulted in flooding that forced the relocation of 53,800 people in east China.

A man removes water from his house after flooding caused by tropical storm Fung Wong in Hefei, Anhui province, August 2, 2008. [Agencies]

The flooding along the Chuhe River system in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces is the worst since 1991, with water levels in some sections exceeding warning levels or even historical records.

The flood crest of the Xianghe river, the system's main stream, reached 14.19 meters at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Quanjiao, Anhui, 0.2 meters higher than the previous recorded high.

The river's flood crest at the Xiaoqiao hydrological station in Jiangsu hit 12.62 meters at 7:33 p.m. Saturday, only one centimeter lower than the historical records.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has demanded the flood prevention efforts should be underscored to ensure the safety of people, railways and key embankments.

The relocations should be properly handled, said Hui, commander-in-chief of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Downpours swept central Anhui, and central and southern Jiangsu from Thursday to Saturday.

The two provinces have put into use overflow areas and evacuated 53,800 people. More than 500,000 people, including 7,900 armed police and militia, are monitoring the levees of the river.

Flood control authorities said main streets in Chuzhou city seat was under half a meter of water. The seat of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu, were also inundated in 65 locations.

According to the Anhui Civil Affairs Department, the downpours had killed two people, and the province reported a direct economic loss of 600 million yuan (88 million US dollars).