Closing the floodgates to disaster

Experts are calling for improvements to drainage systems and emergency response capabilities to prevent China's larger cities from being paralyzed by adverse weather, as Wang Zhenghua reports from Shanghai.

Early in October, a heavy storm ravaged a large swathe of East China as Typhoon Fitow swept across the region. At least 70 percent of Yuyao city in Zhejiang province was submerged under deep floodwaters that left the city of 1.3 million people paralyzed as power supplies, telecoms, tap water and public transport services were crippled. Even the local TV and radio stations were unable to broadcast.

Even though 20 days had passed since the unexpected flood hit Yuyao, Chen Zhenglan was still haunted by memories of the nightmare during which the city was thrown into complete chaos and her family, along with many others, was cut off from food and clean water for days.