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Flood fears in China's east as rain swells Yangtze River levels

Increasing water levels in the Yangtze River following intense rains in southern China have triggered eastern regions downstream to get ready for possible flooding.

Water levels in the Jiangsu section of China's longest river continued to increase on Wednesday as a result of the increased circulation from its upper reaches as well as the persistent rainfall.

Nanjing, the capital of China's eastern Jiangsu province issued its 2nd greatest flood caution and authorities banned numerous vessels, consisting of passenger ferries, from going into or running in the river's Jiangsu area, state media reported.

China's Ministry of Water Resources had said on Tuesday that water levels in sections of the middle and lower courses of the Yangtze River went beyond the warning mark.

Water levels at Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province, where authorities had activated a second-level action for flood control since Tuesday night, were also being carefully seen.

The country's largest freshwater lake logged its greatest water level in July 2020 at 22.6 metres.

Heavy rainfall pounded parts of central China's Hunan province previously today, triggering the Miluo River in Pingjiang county to swell to its highest level in 70 years.

Local authorities in Hunan activated the optimum emergency situation response level and state media showed large parts of its town waterlogged, along with stranded individuals being saved on boats.

About 340,000 individuals in China were affected and companies were struck. A factory producing spicy treats said it would shut for 5 days affected by water outages, traffic blockages and disrupted communication lines.

The rain is expected to start dissipating from the southern areas, and forecasters stated warmer temperatures might follow as storm cloud that kept areas cooler than regular drift away.

The rain belt triggering floods in areas around the middle and lower course of China's Yangtze River will begin to move northwards from Wednesday night.

Downpour is anticipated in provinces including Sichuan, Chongqing, and parts of Hubei, Henan and Shandong, China's. National Meteorological Center said.

The rains would be welcome in northern locations affected. with dry spell, but constant rains may trigger secondary. disasters, weather specialists warned in the nationwide projection.

(source: Reuters)