The torrential rain that started to fall on Friday in central China's Hubei Province has left 754 reservoirs in the region exceeding flood storage capacities.
Due to increased discharge from the Three Gorges Reservoir and recent heavy rainfall, water levels in the Hubei section of the Yangtze River and in smaller rivers within the province are expected to rise in the coming days.
Multiple areas in Hubei, including Wuhan, Yichang, Jingmen, Xiaogan, and 11 other cities and prefectures, have also experienced heavy rainfall since Friday.
The heavy rainfall caused waterlogging in a low-lying residential area in Xiaogan City on Saturday, trapping several residents in their homes. Rescue personnel then used rescue boats to evacuate the flood-stranded residents to safety.
In Wuhan City, heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds caused multiple power line failures across the city. After nearly two hours of emergency repairs, power supply has been fully restored.
The heavy rainfall also caused the water level of Maojiahe Reservoir in Xingshan County, Yichang City, to rise rapidly. Considering the possibility of continued heavy rainfall, the reservoir started to discharge floodwater at 13:00 Saturday.
"We've quickly organized personnel to initiate emergency plans, notify every household, set up roadblocks on major transportation routes, and prohibit people and vehicles from entering the areas of flood discharge channels," said Cai Bishou, head of Pingshui Village, Gufu Town, Yichang City's Xingshan County.
Heavy rainfall in Hubei leaves 754 reservoirs exceeding flood storage capacities
