River bank collapse a threat
Parts of the river bank near a dam on the Yangtze River in Hunan province are collapsing, threatening residents in the coming flood season, a local newspaper has reported.
The damage was most severe in several areas in Yueyang , the Xiaoxiang Morning Post said. Local officials could not be reached for comment.
A portion of the bank of the Xia-jing River, a tributary of the Yangtze, has receded 51 metres since the end of last month. In one case, a 600-metre section of the bank collapsed close to the dam.
Chen Nianping, head of the dam protection bureau in Huarong county , was quoted as saying the bank had suffered a series of collapses since 2001, when the river's route was expanded to handle flooding. However, a shortage of funds prevented the county from properly cementing the bank.
The situation had deteriorated due to increasing rain in the past month, he said.
Hunan's flood season typically starts next month. More rain is forecast for the next few days, threatening the lives of residents of Huarong county and Yueyang.
Experts are working on ways to strengthen the banks.
