A rainstorm has battered northwest China's Shaanxi Province from
the early morning of Tuesday to 2 a.m. Wednesday, causing water
volume on some stretches of Hanjiang River, a branch of the
Yangtze, to increase dramatically.
The rainstorm is claimed to be the largest so far this flood season
in Shaanxi Province, and 84 counties within the province have
received rainfall.
About 21 villages and townships have been affected by the rainstorm
and some stretches of No. 108 national highway have collapsed.
Power supply and mobile telecommunications services in Ningqiang
County were temporarily suspended due to floods.
The Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on
Tuesday released an urgent notice urging relevant departments to
closely observe the situation, intensify patrolling of embankments
and transfer local residents who live in landslide-threatened
areas.
According to the weather forecast, the Hanjiang River valley can
expect further heavy rain and the flood control situation on the
river would continue to be severe.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2003)
