Society

New storms hit flood-ravaged Hainan, 500 dams threatened

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-16 21:04

Floating fish enclosures are flushed away by flood water in the Wanquan River in Qionghai, South China's Hainan province, Oct 16, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

HAIKOU - A new round of storms has been pounding south China's island province of Hainan since Thursday, raising water levels in the province's 500 reservoirs and major rivers to dangerous points, local officials said Saturday.

Hainan was ravaged by heavy rains early this month, forcing more than 440,000 residents to be evacuated.

In most of Hainan's cities and counties, rainfall during the past 30 hours exceeded 100 millimeters, local meteorological officials said.

Devastating floods were reported throughout the province, said Yang Yunxian, head of the provincial disaster relief authority. Also, water at Hainan's two major rivers, Nandu river and Wanquan river, has risen to dangerous levels.

Local weather forecasters said heavy rains would last for two more days. Authorities have ordered strengthened efforts to protect the reservoirs and to act to reduce damages from flooding.

A house is submerged by flood water beside Wanquan River after new storms hit Qionghai, South China's Hainan province, Oct 16, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]