The water levels in many sections of the trunk stream of China's Huaihe River have begun to fall, as the rains ease and flood diversion measures take effect.
By 2 p.m. on Monday, the water level at Wangjiaba, the first- opened floodwater diversion area, had fallen from last Saturday's 28.91 meters to 28.07 meters.
However, hydrological stations in east China's Anhui Province showed that all water levels along the whole river remained above the flood warning line.
Despite the lowering of water levels in most areas along the river, Zhengyangguan hydrometric station recorded a gradually rising water level on Monday with the approaching flood crest.
Cheng Dianlong, deputy director of the Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, stressed that vigilance was still necessary because the water levels in the mainstream remained high and more rain was likely to fall after July 8.
No major threats to the embankments of the trunk stream of the Huaihe River have emerged. Seven hundred minor incidents have threatened dykes around flood diversion areas, but all are under control.
(China Daily July 8, 2003)
