China – Floods Affect Millions in Central and Eastern Provinces

source： http://floodlist.com/asia/china-floods-central-eastern-july-2020

Flooding in central and eastern provinces of China has worsened over the last few days, with over 14 million people affected across the worst hit provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang.

Floodwaters first hit Sichuan,  Guizhou and Chongqing in the southwest and Hubei in central China in late June. High river flows have since moved eastwards along the Yangtze river basin. According to China’s Ministry of Water Resources, rivers are above danger levels in over 80 locations.

Recent heavy rainfall in the region has swollen rivers and lakes further, as well as causing flash flooding and landslides. Wide areas of eastern China saw between 400 mm and 600 mm of rain in the first 10 days of July, according to figures from China’s Meteorological Agency (CMA).

Hubei Province

Recent flooding in Hubei Province has affected over 9 million people in 44 counties, according to the province’s Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, quoted by local media. The provincial emergency management department has evacuated more than 17,000 people to safety.

As of 10 July, the Yangtze at Jingzhou City stood 1.04 metres above warning levels at 33.04 metres. Meanwhile the Yangtze at Hankou in Wuhan stood at 28.04 metres on 10 July, above the danger mark of 27.3 metres.

Heavy rain on 08 July triggered a landslide in Dahe Township of Huangmei County. Dahe recorded 353mm of rain in 24 hours. Nine people were swept away and 40 people displaced.

Hunan Province

As of 08 July, rain and flooding since late June has affected more than 956,000 people and destroyed hundreds of houses in central Hunan province, according to local authorities quoted by news agency Xinhua.

The province’s flood control and drought relief headquarters said about 79,000 hectares of farmland.

Yueyang recorded record rainfall of 261 mm in 24 hours to 08 July. Donting Lake at Yueyang stood at 34.18 metres, which is above the danger mark of 32.5m.

Jiangxi Province

In Jiangxi Province, flooding since 06 July has now affected over 3.68 million residents, with about 324,000 people relocated. Two rescue workers are missing after flash floods in Nachang.

The province upgraded its emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on 08 July. Poyang Lake at Xingzi hydrological station stood at 20.54 metres on 08 July, which is 1.54 metres above the warning level.

Ji’an County recorded 364.7mm of rain in 24 hours to 10 July. As of 10 July, the Yangtze River at Jiujiang City stood at 22.07 metres where the danger mark is 20 metres.

Anhui Province

Xinhua reported on 07 July that heavy rain has affected over 420,000 people in Anhui Province, as local authorities launched the level II emergency response (second-highest) for flood prevention.

Rain has been falling since 02 July, affecting seven cities and 31 county-level administrations and leading to the evacuation of 27,000 people.

The Guxihe River at Dangtu near Ma’anshan City stood at 11.62 metres as of 10 July. Danger level at this location is 10.30 metres.

Zhejiang Province

Some areas in Tonglu County in Zhejiang Province were flooded on 07 July after releases from the Xin’an River Reservoir. The reservoir is an important flood control project in the upper reaches of the Qiantang River. A total of 27,397 residents have been evacuated.

Social Media

The Xin'an River #Reservoir, an important flood control project in the upper reaches of the Qiantang River, has opened all nine of its spillways to lower the crest of local #floods in E China's Zhejiang. pic.twitter.com/N6aQsB3DEO

— FlyOverChina (@FlyOverChina) July 9, 2020