China's main flood season sees heavier rain

China's main flood season this year, which saw more precipitation, has come to an end, with the current flood control situation generally stable, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

However, the risk of secondary disasters triggered by intense local rainfall still persists, and typhoons may continue to wreck havoc, it warned in a media release on Monday.

Due to the impact of climate change and El Nino, a periodic event that involves warming currents in the Pacific Ocean, China experienced comparatively heavier rainfall with stronger intensity in the past main flood season, which started on July 1, it said.

This has resulted in stronger deluge with more substantial amount of water, and subsequently caused more emergency situations, it said.

Forecasts showed that some regions, including the Yellow River basin, the upper reaches of the Jialing and Hanjiang rivers in the Yangtze River basin and the Pear River basin, will still receive more precipitation than normal years in September, it warned.

It said there is a possibility of typhoons making landfall or affecting China in September. Because of the rainfall they bring, the Han River in the Pearl River basin, and some rivers in Guangdong and Hainan provinces, as well as Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, may experience flooding exceeding safe levels, the ministry said.

It said vigilance is required to mitigate the risks of flash floods and flooding in small to medium-sized rivers caused by intense local rainfall.