As the water level in the mainstream of Huaihe River in east China drops gradually, levels are also receding in two flood diversion areas.

Chengdong Lake in Anhui Province opened its sluice gate at 6:20 p.m. Friday to let water back into the Huaihe River. At a rate of flow of 300 cubic meters per second, 13 million cubic meters of water had gone back into the Huaihe River by 8:00 a.m. Saturday, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Starting from June 16, the Mengwa flood diversion area in Anhui Province had let 215 million cubic meters back into the Huaihe River by 8:00 a.m. Saturday, with 340 million cubic meters still remaining.

Some 1.35 million people are keeping watch along the Huaihe River and Hongze Lake, including 816,000 in Anhui Province and 529,000 in neighboring Jiangsu Province.

Dangerous situations have developed in 1,842 separate spots on the Huaihe River and flood diversion areas, but all have been brought under contr ol.

No significant hazards have occurred on the major embankments of the mainstream of the Huaihe River.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2003)