The collapse on Monday of part of the southern bank of the Yangtze
River about 100 km downstream from the Three Gorges Project will
not affect overall flood control.
On
Monday morning, 260 meters of the Yangtze River bank near Xujiaxi
of Zhicheng Township, Yidu City, caved in.
You Bin, deputy head of the section for Yangtze River flood control
embankment in Yidu City, Hubei Province, said the collapse was 2
meters away from the foundation of the Yangtze River
embankment.
A
joint group sent by Yangtze River Flood Control Headquarters and
Hubei Provincial Flood Control Headquarters inspected the site.
They concluded the incident was caused by the current in the main
stream of the Yangtze creating wash on the river bank, and more
moisture in the soil of the river bank because of increased
rainfall.
The incident had caused no other damage and more than 200 farmers
living behind the main embankment of the Yangtze, and 26.7 hectares
of arable land were unaffected, said You.
He
noted that behind the section of dyke on three sides are hills,
therefore even if the dyke would collapse the river water will be
stopped by the hills and the damage would be limited to the small
area.
An
emergency countermeasure had been created to protect the main river
embankment, said You.
He
said a 100,000 yuan (about US$12,048) fund had been prepared to
mend the caved-in river bank, using 3,000 cubic meters of
stones.
(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2003)