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 26.7hectares 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 cu m of stones.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2003)