The Three Gorges Dam is preparing in order to control the
largest flood crest this year from the upper Yangtze River to
protect the middle and lower reaches as central China's Hubei Province goes on high flood alert.
On Monday at noon the Three Gorges Reservoir began to release
floodwater at 48,000 cubic meters per second. At 8:00 AM, due to
continuous rain in the upper reaches, the water inflow into the
reservoir measured 51,000 cubic meters per second.
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The inflow is expected to reach 56,700 cubic meters per second, the
floodwater's peak, by 8:00 AM on Tuesday, according to the China
Three Gorges Corporation, the builder of the gigantic Three Gorges
hydropower project.
"The Three Gorges Dam has opened 18 sluices and the water level
in the reservoir will continue to rise," said a worker with one of
the dam's operation department. "The safety of the dam will be
tested."
The two-way traffic at the Three Gorges ship lock was halted at
8:00 AM on Monday due to floodwaters.
Hubei Province, where the Three Gorges project is located, is
also on high alert.
Water levels in the 1,392-km section of the river from Yichang
to Hankou would exceed levels requiring initiation of flood
prevention work, according to the Hubei Flood Control and Drought
Relief headquarters.
Water levels in certain sections is expected to reach or exceed
warning levels, the headquarters reported.
The province has ordered a round-the-clock monitoring of the
levees, said Liu Youfan, Vice Governor of Hubei Province.
(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2007)
