More than 30,000 soldiers, emergency workers and residents are on guard at dikes near Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, as the city on Wednesday braced for flood waters from two swollen rivers.

According to the Yangtze Water Resources Commission, flood peaks of the mainstream of the Yangtze River and the Hanjiang River, the Yangtze's longest tributary, are expected to converge in Wuhan within 24 hours.

"It is very rare for the two rivers' flood peaks to arrive at Wuhan at the same time," said Hu Xiaohei, an inspector from Wuhan's Bureau of Water Resources.

The city has a population of about 9.1 million and is a major transport and economic hub in central China. It stands at the center of China's latest battle against floods which have left more than 1,400 people dead or missing this year.

"The city's ability to control the huge amount of water is certainly being tested," Hu said.

The level of Hanjiang River, the highest in two decades, rose to 35.39 meters when it passed Xiantao City near Wuhan at midday Wednesday.

Workers were on standby as authorities withheld an order to open flood gates to divert water from the swollen Hanjiang River to a walled low-lying area covering 600 square kilometers.

The low-lying area, stretching from Xiantao to southeast parts of Wuhan, comprises farmland and fish ponds. It is designed as an emergency reservoir during serious floods.

"We will strive to protect people and limit the losses brought by the flood," said Jiang Tiebing, director of Wuhan's water resources bureau.