China is gearing up for potentially severe flooding in July across major river basins, as the country grapples with an unusually early and intense flood season.
Since the start of this year's flood season, China has faced significant challenges, with 11 major floods reported across the country's major rivers, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
From the south to the north, 571 rivers in 21 of the 31 provincial-level regions in the Chinese mainland, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, and Heilongjiang have seen their water levels exceed the alert line due to heavy rainfall and upstream inflows.
"In April, the Pearl River Basin, including the Beijiang River, Hanjiang River, and Dongjiang River, saw six numbered floods, occurring two months earlier than usual. Among them, the first and second floods on the Beijiang River were the earliest and most severe floods recorded in major rivers nationwide since the relevant statistics were compiled in 1998," said Hu Zhidan, deputy director of the Hydrological Information Center at the Ministry of Water Resources.
What is notable for this year is the simultaneous flooding on major rivers. Heavy rains and increased upstream water flows have exceeded the alert level on the Xijiang River of the southern Pearl River Basin, as well as various sections of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
"Floods on small and medium-sized rivers have been increasingly frequent. Since the start of the flood season, 471 small and medium-sized rivers across 21 provinces have surpassed alert levels, doubling the usual figure for this period. In the upstream of the Minjiang River in Fujian, the Futunxi River has seen eight consecutive flood events," Hu explained.
As of Saturday, 29 rivers nationwide have seen floods on them exceed the warning level, with five surpassing their guaranteed water levels, according to the Ministry.
Following the first flood of 2024 in the Yangtze River, as of Saturday morning, the water levels on the middle and lower reaches, including sections around Jiujiang and Nanjing, and Poyang Lake, have exceeded the alert levels.
Additionally, 29 monitoring stations on the Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake areas, as well as in river networks around Taihu Lake, have reported high water levels.
The current heavy rainfall pattern is forecasted to continue until July 2, particularly affecting regions like the Yangtze, Taihu Lake, and the Pearl River Basin's West River. Authorities have forecasted further flood occurrences due to continuous rainfall.
"It is expected that in July, significant floods may occur on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Yellow River, as well as in the Huaihe River, Yihe River, Suhe River. Floods may also occur in the Haihe River basin, this includes the Zhangwei River, Ziya River, as well as the Songhua River, Second Songhua River, and Liaohe River," Hu said.
Responding to escalating flood risks, the Ministry of Water Resources held a special flood prevention meeting on Saturday morning.
Officials conducted a thorough analysis of flood prevention strategies for key areas such as the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, Huaihe River, Taihu Lake, and Xijiang River. Four additional task forces were dispatched to the Yangtze River Basin to strengthen prevention against potential heavy rains and ensure effective emergency responses.
China braces for potential floods across multiple river basins in July
