China's 5,400-km Yellow River has frozen along a course of about 1,211 kilometers so far this winter, according to sources with the Yellow River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Due to frequent cold waves, the course of the Yellow River in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region began to freeze on Nov. 7, and was totally frozen by Dec. 9.

Meanwhile, other parts of the river have frozen in various degrees. A 212-km lower section in Shandong province has frozen, local sources said.

When the Yellow River freezes, which usually lasts until early spring, water will start to accumulate upstream, leading to higher water levels in parts of the river and thereby floods. The floods used to threaten the safety of embankments along some narrow and winding sections of the river in early spring.

The related provinces have paid much attention to the ice flow, and mobilized people to form emergency squads, and supplies of materials and equipment are also available for possible rescue operations, said sources with the flood control headquarters.

(Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2003)