The critical part of the annual flood season in China, which usually runs from late July to early August, is expected to end on Monday, but severe flood prevention challenges persist as the country remains in a peak flood season, according to the country's Ministry of Water Resources.
Since the start of the flood season, there have been 25 significant flood occurrences on the country's major rivers, the highest number recorded since data collection began in 1998.
In July, particularly during the critical part of the annual flood season, intense rainfall and frequent flooding pounded the country.
The cumulative national precipitation has reached 183 millimeters, 10 percent above the annual average.
Thirty rivers have seen floods surpassing historical records, with the number of rivers seeing the water level on them exceeding the warning line going up by 120 percent compared to the same period of previous years, and those seeing their water level surpassing safety thresholds nearly 60 percent higher.
Since July, 1,182 large and medium-sized reservoirs in the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Huai River, the Pearl River, the Songhua and Liao River, and the Taihu Lake basins have been actively managed to reduce flood peaks and alleviate pressure on downstream areas.
Currently, the country remains in a peak flood season and faces a challenging flood prevention situation. Floodwaters on the Wusuli River in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is still in excess of the safety line, heavy rainfall in certain areas still poses risks of secondary disaster, and potential future typhoons could further impact the region.
The Ministry of Water Resources has urged strict implementation of flood prevention measures to manage and mitigate risks before they escalate, focusing on safeguarding lives, protecting property and ensuring social stability.
Critical part of annual flood season in China expected to end Monday amid severe flood prevention challenges
