Floods caused by the season's torrential rain have begun hitting areas along the Yangtze River with water levels in lakes and rivers on the rise in central China, Beijing-based English newspaper China Daily reported Saturday.
Although no casualties or damages have been reported so far, "anti-flood preparations are already taking place in areas along the Yangtze," the paper quoted a leading official for the State Flood Control Headquarters as saying.
Urging local authorities to prepare for the worst in the following days as more rain is forecast, the official was confident that authorities in flood-stricken areas are able to bring their flood-prone rivers under effective control.
Over the past few days, excessive rainfall has pushed up water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs in central China's Hubei Province.
Authorities in Wuhan, capital of Hubei and the most important industrial and commercial metropolis in central China along the Yangtze, have prepared to reinforce unfinished sections of levees.
Water levels in Hubei's Yichang, Hankou and Shashi witnessed record levels in 1998.
Flood-control is also critical in east China's Taihu Lake as water levels tend to remain high for days.
(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2002)
