July 5, 2023
BEIJING – The Chongqing hydrological monitoring station issued three yellow flood alerts on Tuesday morning as torrential rain hit most parts of the municipality on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Authorities expect significant flooding at Qijiang Wucha Station in Jiangjin district. The highest water level will be close to flood-stage (200.51 meters), the most a dike has ever withstood, with increases of about 5.5 to 6.5 meters. Puhe Shijiao Station in Qijiang district will experience significant flooding, with the highest water level reaching the warning level (241.11 meters), an increase of about 3.5 to 4.5 meters.
There will be a significant increase in water at the Modaoxi Longju Town Station in Wanzhou District, and the highest water level will be close to flood stage (292.50 meters) , or about 12 to 13 meters.
From 8 am Monday to 8 am Tuesday, 24 districts and counties in Chongqing had witnessed heavy rainfall. Wanzhou experienced a severe rainstorm. The maximum daily rainfall occurred in Baiyan village, Changtan town, Wanzhou, at 251.5 millimeters.
The water level of 10 rivers in Jiangjin district, Qijiang district, Fuling district, Fengjie county and Wanzhou district exceeded the warning level. Three rivers saw flood-stage water.
Wanzhou, the largest district in Chongqing, with 1.75 million people, issued a red rain warning on Tuesday morning and halted mass gatherings, classes and businesses (except for special industries).
Due to the continuous heavy rainfall in Wanzhou, the railway department blocked the line between Wanzhou Station and Qiyue Mountain on the Wanliang Railway for safety inspections on Tuesday morning. The railway staff discovered that part of the pier of the Sipuhe Railway Bridge between Yubeishan Station and Luotian Station on the Wanliang Railway had been damaged by floods, causing the railway bridge to partially collapse, according to the China Railway Chengdu Bureau.
The Chongqing hydrological monitoring station issued a reminder that units along rivers and the public should strengthen precautions and avoid danger. It is recommended that the government and the public pay close attention to changes in water flow and make adjustment in time to avoid danger. It was suggested that river-related construction in progress should stop, traffic controls should be put in place on flooded bridges, and vehicles and pedestrians should not pass through.
On Monday, Chongqing issued a Level IV flood-control emergency response, the lowest of the warning system, as concerns rose over potential dangers to life and property.