RSSNewsletterSiteMapFeedback

Home · Weather · Forum · Learning Chinese · Jobs · Shopping
Search This Site
China | International | Business | Government | Environment | Olympics/Sports | Travel/Living in China | Culture/Entertainment | Books & Magazines | Health
Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Ice thaw causes flood on China-Kazakh border river
Adjust font size:

Ice flows caused by rising temperatures on an inland river on the China-Kazakhstan border are damaging embankments and flooding homes as the region starts to warm after nearly three weeks of severe winter conditions.

By Friday, ice flows had affected six of nine counties in the Ili River Valley of China's Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region, destroying four kilometers of embankment and flooding about 50 homes, the government of the Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Ili said.

It estimated direct economic losses of around 14 million yuan (1.94 million U.S. dollars).

Since Jan. 22, the low temperature in the region was about minus 22 degrees Celsius, freezing up the narrow, zigzagging sections of the Ili River and causing ice flows along its 442-km China section.

As temperatures had rebounded four or five degrees since Thursday, this had worsened the flows.

By Friday, the ice had swollen to form a 10-km icy belt that towered at least 40 centimeters over the embankment. It eventually destroyed some of the flood-defence facilities, the local water resource bureau said.

It said the run was the most severe on the river since 2000.

The bureau has sent workers to reinforce the embankment and remove ice from the blocked sections, amid the local meteorological station's warning of severe spring flooding caused by snowmelt.

The Ili originates in Xinjiang and empties into Kazakhstan's Balkhash Lake.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Comment
Username   Password   Anonymous
 
China Archives
Related >>
- Xinjiang Ice Flood Under Control
- Over 1,400 Fall Victims of Ice Flood in Xinjiang
Most Viewed >>
-Ice sculptures showcased in Ice City
-Plants and Animals in China
-Asian elephants attack American tourist
-Snow-hit central China bid farewell to darkness
-Explanation of mysterious 'Tianchi monster'
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai particulate matter II
Guangzhou particulate matter II
Chongqing particulate matter III1
Xi'an particulate matter II
Most Read
-Ice sculptures showcased in Ice City
-Plants and Animals in China
-Asian elephants attack American tourist
-Snow-hit central China bid farewell to darkness
-Explanation of mysterious 'Tianchi monster'
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号