Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday afternoon raised its emergency response for flood control to Level I, the highest in the four-tier emergency response system for floods, according to local authorities.
Photo: Chinanews
The Jialing River and the Yangtze River Basin have witnessed floods due to heavy rainfall in the Sichuan Basin. Water levels in the Jialing River and the Chongqing section of the Yangtze River will rise sharply above the safety level, which might lead to the second largest floods in history, according to hydrological authorities.
It is estimated that the Jialing River will see the water level rise above the safety level by 3.5 to 4.5 meters at Dongjintuo Station in Hechuan district and 5.5 to 6.5 meters at Ciqikou Station in Shapingba district. On the Yangtze River, the water level will exceed the safety level by 3 to 4 meters at Zhutuo Station in Yongchuan district, 5.5 to 6 meters at Caiyuanba Station in Yuzhong Station, and 4.5 to 5.5 meters at Cuntan Station in Jiangbei district.
Chongqing Municipality has called on its districts and counties to issue response instructions, establish on-site command agencies, propose and release plans to avoid and respond quickly to disaster, carry out full-out disaster relief, and transfer and settle evacuated people properly. The districts and counties are required to ensure that all emergency response work is conducted successfully to realize the goal of "zero mortality" in the flood season while responding to all social concerns promptly.
The Hydrological Bureau of Chongqing Municipality has demanded that all relevant authorities pay careful attention to changes in water and weather information, improve flood prevention and control measures, strengthen early-warning systems, and make strict inspections along with the river. The relevant authorities are responsible for informing concerned departments and civilians to evacuate, guiding the threatened citizens, and making the greatest efforts to safeguard people's lives and property.
(Compiled by Long Wei)