The government of central China's Hubei Province has put all departments on flood alert as the Hanjiang River reached its highest level in 19 years. 

Heavy rains from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2 contributed to the risk of flooding on the Hanjiang, the largest branch of the Yangtze River.

At 2 p.m. on Thursday, the water level at the Danjiangkou reservoir hit 154.8 meters, 2.3 meters higher than the warning level. The river water flow peaked at 13,900 cubic meters per second.

More rain is forecast on the upper reaches of Hanjiang from Sept. 6 to 10, increasing the risk of flooding, according to vice governor Liu Youfan.

(People’s Daily September 5, 2003)