The Huaihe River mainstream flood crest is approaching the Hongze Lake, China's fourth biggest freshwater lake, prompting its water level to keep rising.

According to the Huaihe River Flood Control Headquarters, the water level in the Hongze Lake reached the 13.92 meters at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday and was only 0.16 meters lower than the record high of 14.06 meters in 1991.

The Hongze Lake serves as a reservoir in the middle and lower reaches of the Huaihe River.

Meanwhile, the flood control headquarters in east China's Jiangsu province confirmed that the water level in the Qinhuai River continued to drop and the situation in the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake in southern Jiangsu province was stable in general.

More than 1.05 million hectares of cropland have been reported to be waterlogged in northern Jiangsu, of which 402,600 hectares seriously affected and 64,400 hectares would give no yields this year.

Meteorological departments forecast that torrential rainfalls would go on hitting the northern part of Jiangsu province and the Yangtze River valley from July 8 to 10.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2003)