Sh*t is real in China right now — there are currently over 40 miles of dikes in danger of overflowing in an eastern Chinese province where flooding has already cost some $1.2 billion in losses.
According to the Xinhua news service, the flooding has already affected some 5.7 million people in eastern and southern China, destroying or damaging over 7,000 homes and leading to heavy evacuations.
Heavy rains pounded Zhejiang province over the weekend, and the level of a river that passes through Lanxi city has risen sharply, said Zhao Fayuan, deputy director of the provincial flood control headquarters.
The level of Lanjiang river has now hit 110 feet, the highest since 1966, the headquarters said.
Several sections of the dikes in Lanxi city are barely holding, Zhao said. More than 20,000 people could be affected if the dikes are breached, he was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
The flood control headquarters advised Lanxi officials to evacuate all residents near the dikes that are at risk of overflowing, and to repair them immediately.
Recent flooding has destroyed 600,000 acres of farmland and caused 1,846 companies to stop production in Zhejiang, incurring 7.69 billion yuan ($1.19 billion) in direct economic losses, the flood control agency said. Of these, 3.4 billion yuan were agricultural losses. Coastal Zhejiang is one of China’s richest provinces and its economy grew 11.8 percent last year.
Flooding in eastern and southern China this month has forced 500,000 people to evacuate, triggered landslides, cut power and telecommunications and left more than 180 people dead or missing. Five more people were killed Sunday and one remains missing after surging floodwaters swept them away in their southwest villages, Xinhua reported.
Farmers quoted by Xinhua said the flooding was the worst in 20 years, reducing vegetable output by 20 percent and also causing shortages of fruits and grains. Prices for green vegetables were up 40 percent, Xinhua said, adding to an inflation rate of 5.5 percent, a three-year high.
China’s minister for water resources said Sunday that the country was entering a crucial period for flood control as severe floods triggered by heavy rains threatened southern areas.
It is likely that more frequent and more intense downpours will continue, Chen Lei told a meeting in Beijing, Xinhua reported.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of China — the weather has been something else this year in all parts of the world.
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