China: Authorities declare highest flood alert level in Jiangxi province on July 11

Event

On Saturday, July 11, authorities in Jiangxi province issued a level I flood response alert (the highest possible alert on four-tier scale), a level reserved for exceptional flooding from several rivers and dam collapses. Authorities expect severe flooding from Poyang, China's largest freshwater lake, which is connected to the Yangtze river. Officials in the county of Jiangzhou (Jiangxi province), an island on the Yangtze, have requested help from all residents between 18 and 60 to help fight the flood by reinforcing dams as the lake's levels rise. Heavy rain has reportedly already caused localized flooding and landslides in the southwest, with provinces such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Hunan issuing yellow alerts for rainstorms (the third highest alert level) and Jiangsu province issuing an orange alert (second highest level) for flooding, citing concerns the Yangtze could burst its banks.

Disruptions to travel and infrastructure are anticipated over the coming days.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, avoid areas directly affected by flooding, confirm road conditions, anticipate transportation and business disruptions, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities. Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.