Nearly 400,000 soldiers and civilians rushed to reinforce Harbin's crumbling embankments yesterday in preparation for the third flood crest to pummel the northeastern industrial city this summer.
President Jiang Zemin expressed his concern on state television yesterday for the 'critical' flood situation in the northeast.
'Civilians and the army should be on emergency mobilisation to ensure the safety of Harbin, the Daqing oil fields and people's lives,' he said.
Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao, who arrived in the northeast to guide the flood control exercise, told soldiers of the stakes in fighting the floods.
'At our backs are the crucial cities of the north - Harbin, Qiqihar - and our country's greatest oil field, Daqing,' Mr Wen, standing near a dyke and using a bullhorn, was seen telling the soldiers yesterday on state television.
The dyke breach that sent shallow water through Harbin on Tuesday was almost fully repaired, but the swollen Songhua River was still seeping through the 26km auxiliary embankments yesterday, leaving streets ankle-deep in water.
Though the full impact of the flood crest is not expected until noon today, water levels yesterday shot up 16cm from Wednesday's level, reaching a record 120.74 metres.
