Society

China to divert flood on swollen branch of Yangtze River

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-28 10:13
Large Medium Small

WUHAN - Workers are on standby Wednesday to open flood gates on the swollen Han River, the largest branch of the Yangtze River in Central China's Hubei province, to prevent the flooding of provincial capital Wuhan.

Related readings:
China to divert flood on swollen branch of Yangtze River Three Gorges Dam braces for second flood crest
China to divert flood on swollen branch of Yangtze River Hubei sets high-level alarm to prevent flood
China to divert flood on swollen branch of Yangtze River Wuhan turns flood into fun
China to divert flood on swollen branch of Yangtze River Subtributary of Yangtze River faces biggest flood in 60 yrs

About 5,000 residents near an emergency reservoir in Xiantao City, near Wuhan, were evacuated overnight.

A flood peak is expected to arrive at Xiantao Thursday afternoon and raise the Han River's water level to 35.9 meters -- over the danger level of a nearby dike that guards Hanchuan City and one step closer to Wuhan.

Wuhan is a megacity with a population of about 9.1 million.