Pearl River water level highest for 90 years
By Liu Weifeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-06-27 05:30

The water level in the Pearl River is at the highest it has been for 90 years as surplus water from elsewhere flows into it.

With the flood water from Xijiang, Dongjiang and Beijiang rivers flowing into the Pearl River, the area has seen water rising to peak levels, according to data collected by nine water monitoring stations.

"It seems the Pearl River will overflow its banks," said Lin Jie, a Guangzhou resident.

The Guangzhou Hydrological Bureau said water levels in the Pearl River would remain 1.5 metres higher on average up to a possible 2.7 metres higher than normal until the end of June.

Although the levels of the Xijiang, Dongjiang and Beijiang rivers are receding, they are still above the warning lines.

So said the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, according to the People's Daily.

In East China's Fujian Province, water levels in the Minjiang River and its tributaries have also been receding, to below the warning line.

The headquarters indicated the lower reaches of the Xijiang and Beijiang rivers were still at dangerous levels, above the warning line.

The Guangzhou Hydrological Bureau forecast that water levels of all the affected rivers were expected to subside to under the warning lines by tomorrow, as long as it does not rain too much.

However, the weather forecast in Guangdong Province said its eastern parts would be hit by another round of heavy rain and storms before Wednesday.

The authorities are taking measures to prevent possible price fluctuations to ensure an adequate supply of disaster relief materials and daily necessities.

From June 18 until yesterday, 131 passenger trains were suspended by the Guangzhou Railway Corp because of floods. Cargo trains were also stopped but they began operating again along the Huizhou to Longchuan section of the Beijing-Kowloon railway line on Friday evening, said Ding Liang from the corporation.

Wu Junguang, general manager of the company, was last night directing a 5,000-member team to repair the Huizhou to Dingnan section of the line. It is expected to begin operating again this week.

Meanwhile, in North China, residents are having a respite from the recent oppressive weather.

People in Beijing and Tianjin municipalities, Hebei, Shanxi and Henan provinces will enjoy two more cool days today and tomorrow with the highest temperature forecast less than 30 C.

(China Daily 06/27/2005 page3)

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