The water level at Wangjiaba, a key hydrological station on the middle reaches of the swollen Huaihe River, has been slightly below the danger level of 27.5 meters, said an official with the Huaihe River Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters Sunday.

 

Wang Bin, secretary general of the headquarters said that the water level decreased to 27.49 meters at 8:00 PM Saturday, after 26 consecutive days above the danger line.

 

He said the Huaihe River has entered a period of water receding as no rain has been recorded in most parts of the river valley since July 26.

 

The headquarters predict that in the coming three to four days, water level at other hydrological stations along the trunk stream of the Huaihe River will recede below the danger line.

 

Four flood crests have passed Wangjiaba during the rainy season this year, with the highest at 29.59 meters. At 12:38 AM July 10, the Wangjiaba sluice gate was opened to ease the pressure of the swollen river.

 

No casualties were reported from this year's Huaihe River floods -- the second largest since 1954. In 1991, flooding at this tameless river in east China claimed 572 lives.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2007)