Heavy rain has caused three dike breaches since Sunday in Xiangtan County, in central China's Hunan Province.
A breach in Huashi Township was successfully sealed on Monday, after villagers had to be evacuated following the breach on Sunday evening. The residents will soon return home after clean-up of any damage has been completed.
Another dike breach in Yisuhe Township, which occurred at 20:00 Sunday, had expanded to 79 meters by midday on Monday.
Experts said the water level of the flooded Juanshui River had dropped quickly, shortening drainage times. Dike repair work will get underway once water levels recede.
At around 13:40 on Monday, a dike in Hekou Township burst with a more than 30 meter breach prompting ongoing emergency evacuation and relocation missions for affected residents.
Heavy rain breaches dikes in Hunan, prompting evacuations and repairs
Dikes burst in Hunan as Typhoon Gaemi wreaks havoc
Upon the closing of the Paris Paralympic Games, Laurent Fabius, president of the French Constitutional Council and Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin congratulated China Media Group (CMG) on its comprehensive broadcast coverage of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Fabius and Raffarin sent letters and lauded CMG in its broadcasting and reporting of the two grand Games, stressing its significant contribution towards boosting cultural exchanges between France and China.
In letters to CMG President Shen Haixiong, Fabius and Raffarin emphasized that the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games are not only sporting events, but also a moment to share and celebrate world diversity and civilization achievements.
They said that the events served as a window to showcase the history and culture of France, and it is great to see CMG playing an important part in the broadcast coverage.
Fabius and Raffarin also lauded the events held by CMG to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France.
It is a great honor to participate in this year's cultural and people-to-people exchange activities organized by CMG in Paris to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between France and China, and these activities are conducive in enhancing the relations between the two countries and should be strongly encouraged and supported, Fabius said in the letter.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges such as the French Film Week of the 14th Beijing International Film Festival and the celebrations on the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties have fully demonstrated the profound friendship between France and China, Raffarin said in his letter.
CMG's active contribution and foresight are crucial to the exchanges between the two countries, he said.
Noting that there are many valuable experiences that France and China can learn from each other, Raffarin said he hopes to further deepen the friendship and explore more possibilities for cooperation to enhance mutual understanding and further enrich cultural exchanges between the two nations.
CMG appreciated for performance in broadcasting, reporting of Paris Olympics, Paralympics
