The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is on a state of alert for spring floods along one of the country's major waterways, the Yellow River, as warm spring weather approaches.

If the frozen waters in the upper Ningxia reaches of the river thaw too quickly in the next fortnight, the region would be in danger of flooding, said Jing Lishan, deputy director of the region's flood control headquarters.

As many as 45,800 people had been mobilized to monitor the situation, Jing said, adding that the region was historically susceptible to spring floods.

Since February 10, with the rising temperatures along the river, a 45-kilometer stretch of ice in the upper reaches of Qingtong Gorge has thawed. In the lower reaches, the river is still flowing along 105 kilometers, but the Inner Mongolia section remains frozen.

This year the ice has been particularly thick and the river embankments at several spots were newly built and untested by major floods, said Jing.

(eastday.com February 27, 2003)