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China’s flood defence network put to the test as it braces for more storms
- Almost 20 million people living along the Yangtze River have been affected since late May, with at least 121 killed or missing
- Engineer says if severe flooding, torrential rain persist it’s unclear how effective the dams will be
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China’s huge flood defence network in the south of the country is being put to the test by persistent heavy rainfall across the Yangtze River region.
Torrential rain that began in late May has so far affected almost 20 million people in provinces along the river, with at least 121 killed or missing in severe floods, state media reported.
Meteorological bureaus have warned heavy downpours will continue to affect large areas of the country – from Chongqing in the southwest to Shanghai on the east coast – in the coming five days.
Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, was battered by heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over the weekend and on Monday, prompting authorities to raise the emergency flood response to the second highest level of a four-tier warning system, state news agency Xinhua reported.
The city – a key transport hub in central China – recorded more than 250mm of rainfall from Sunday to Monday morning, causing widespread flooding.
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