The first flood crest on Huaihe River, one of the key important rivers in China, passed by Wangjiaba, a major flood-control observation station on the middle reaches of the river, without causing any hazard, according to local flood control officials.

Technical workers monitored from the observation station that from 7 AM to 9 AM on Wednesday, the water level of the river which flows eastwardly through the central part of Anhui Province, east China, rose to 29.14 meters, with a speed of 6,090 cubic meters per second, when the flood peak was passing through.

But by press time, the water level monitored at the same position, where the danger line is placed at 27.5 meters, fell back to 29.11 meters and will drop to 29 meters by 11 PM on Wednesday.

Altogether 6,390 people living low-lying areas near Mengwa downstream Wangjiaba have been evacuated and resettled down on higher grounds before the arrival of the river's first flood peak.

In Funan County, where the flood-prone Huaihe River passes through, 20,000 people have been mobilized to patrol along both banks of the river, or organized as manpower in reserve in case emergencies occur on the river, said the local flood officials.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2005)