Society

River crests in C China, 54,000 evacuated

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-25 13:20

CHANGSHA - Changsha, capital city of central China's Hunan province, witnessed a record high flood crest on the Xiangjiang River Friday, while weather authorities warned a higher crest has yet come.

A rescue worker helps evacuate residents stranded by flood in Xiangtan, Central China's Hunan province on June 24, 2010.

The crest passing Changsha at 8:00 am was measured 38.46 meters, or 2.46 meters over the danger mark and the highest since 2000.

In Xiangtan County, police and soldiers were mobilized to use boats to help evacuate over 54,000 residents over Thursday night from low-lying areas. No casualty has been reported.

Thousands of people have been patrolling the river embankments in prevention of breaches.

Changsha police on Friday have banned traffic to Juzizhou Islet, which was isolated in the middle of the river in Changsha.

The local authorities warned that the islet was in danger of being submerged by the flood.