A crack caused by illegal sand quarrying has appeared along flood land near the Huaihe River.

The distance between the flood land and the Huainan embankment is becoming increasingly shorter.

The above photos, taken on Nov. 13, show that nearly one-kilometer of flood land along the Heizhang Section in Huainan, a region between the Huaihe and the Yangtze Rivers, is collapsing due to illegal sand quarrying. The collapse has shortened the distance between the flood land and the Huainan embankment, imposing a threat on flood prevention efforts.

Appropriate water resources authorities have advocated a strict strike of illegal sand quarrying. Maritime affairs departments must enforce their efforts to deal with the illegal sand quarrying boats. Local governments along the Huaihe River have been asked to improve administrative efforts concerning the vessels under their jurisdictions and to work together to combat the illegal quarrying.

(China.org.cn November 15, 2007)