Summer rain raises Yangtze flood fears
2/5/2005 10:41
Water resources experts have warned that the middle and lower reaches of the
Yangtze River will face a tougher flood-control situation as a result of more
predicted flood water this summer. There will be two rainy belts in northern
and southern China this summer. One lies on the southern bank of the Yangtze
River. The rainfall in the coming three months will be 10 to 20 percent more
than last year, said Cai Qihua, director of the Yangtze River Water Resources
Committee, at a national conference on meteorological trends in China held in
central China's Hubei Province. The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze
River experienced a cold spell last winter after 18 years of warm
winters. This year also witnessed an unusually cold spell in an otherwise
warm early spring. Historical records show floods are likely occur in the
wake of abnormal meteorological and hydrological cycles, Cai said. The banks
of the Yangtze River have an improved flood-control capacity after large-scale
reinforcement in recent years. Some of its tributaries, however, are still
weak in holding back flood water. Cave-ins take place at some rivers from
time to time. Cai called for efforts to "make full preparation" for flood
control, improve existing quick-response plans and accelerate flood-control
project construction.
Xinhua news
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