BEIJING: Thousands of people have been evacuated to safety following three dike breaches since Sunday on the overflowing Juanshui River in Xiangtan county, Central China’s Hunan province, according to the local publicity department.
The first breach occurred at around 6:40 pm on Sunday in Xiangtan’s Huashi township, prompting local authorities to relocate at least 800 residents, China Central Television reported. The breach was sealed by 3 pm on Monday and the floodwater was drained out. The second breach was spotted at around 8 pm on Sunday in Xiangtan’s Yisuhe township, and it widened to 77 meters by 3:58 am on Monday, the CCTV report said, adding that more than 3,800 people were evacuated.
The water level of the Juanshui River was 0.3 meters higher than the record level in its history, as heavy rainfall caused by Typhoon Gaemi battered the Xiangjiang River basin since Friday, according to news reports.
The Juanshui is a tributary of the Xiangjiang River, which is called the lifeline river of Hunan. The fourth flood warning of the year was issued for the Xiangjiang on Sunday night.
Local governments have mobilized more than 1,000 officials and over 1,000 emergency responders to aid search and rescue efforts, which were underway as of press time on Monday.
According to a People’s Daily report, a third breach measuring more than 30 meters occurred at 1:40 pm on Monday in Xiangtan’s Hekou township. Search and rescue efforts were underway in the area, and affected people were being evacuated to safety, the report said.
Four schools in Xiangtan county have been turned into temporary shelters for those evacuated following the dike breaches. On Monday, an official with the local publicity department confirmed the three breaches, but did not provide further details. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
