04/01/2016, 19.24
CHINA
Send to a friend

China’s Yangtze River to face huge, disastrous flooding, government official warns

In 1998, the Yangtze River, the longest in Asia and the fourth in the world, broke its banks, killing more than 3,000 and affecting some 220 million. Experts warns that El Niño effect could reach its peak in August, and cause a disaster.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Yangtze River, the longest in Asia and the fourth in the world, is expected to see heavy flooding at its middle section and downstream this year, warned Liu Ning, general secretary of the National Flood Prevention and Drought Relief Commanding Centre.

The impact could be as bad as the 1998 floods when more than 3,000 people died, and some 220 million were affected in 24 provinces.

The main cause of this is the El Niño effect, a periodical (five years) warming of sea surface temperatures over the tropical central and eastern Pacific Ocean near Latin America in December and January. Its impact can be felt as far as Asia.

Rainfall in the Yangtze River is forecast to rise 10 to 50 per cent from previous years in May, whilst some major branches of the river downstream will likely see 20 to 50 per cent more precipitation.

From June to August, the entire Yangtze River is expected to see up to 50 per cent more rain, with a 50 to 80 per cent increase at its middle section.

A week ago, heavy rains hit southern provinces, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian, triggering alerts as water levels in many rivers rose alarmingly.

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
President Marcos lifts barriers on rice imports as prices skyrocket
22/04/2024 16:00
AI used in Santo Niño de Cebu scam
20/10/2023 15:02
In Cebu the 'sinulog' of rebirth
16/01/2023 12:10
Report finds Fr Stan was jailed and died because of documents planted on his computer
14/12/2022 20:31
Government cracks down on Popular Front of India, an Islamic group, with arrests across India
27/09/2022 18:48


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”