China’s surveillance system on main stretches of Yangtze River will help it withstand deadly floods: officials
Rising water levels have killed at least 186 people in southern and central areas but Tropical Storm Nepartak, due to hit on Thursday or Friday, will bring more rain
China’s flood control authorities are optimistic its new automatic flood surveillance system will ensure major stretches of the Yangtze River – the country’s longest – can withstand the deadly floods that have so far killed at least 186 people.
Water monitoring information from all the surveillance stations along the river can be collected by Yangtze River’s flood control office within 20 minutes
In addition to the floods from heavy rainfall, there is the threat pose by the approaching Tropical Storm Nepartak, which is forecast to hit the southeastern corner of China on Thursday or Friday.
It was forecast to bring heavy storms to Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and affect Tai Lake, in Jiangsu province, the state flood control authority said.
The level of Tai Lake had already risen to a height of 4.64 metres by Sunday afternoon – 0.84 metres higher than the warning level, which automatically triggers an alert to flood control officials.
Torrential rain wreaks havoc in central, eastern China but Yangtze flood risks diminish
The Jiangsu city of Wuxi, on the banks of the lake, has raised its flood alert level from two to the highest level one.