Flood risk in districts

By Lu Feiran  |   2008-6-25  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

Workers rebuild a section of flood wall along the Suzhou Creek yesterday. The water in Shanghai's main waterways is rising to the warning level as heavy rain, tidal flows and flood water rushing down from Lake Taihu pose a threat to its flood-prevention infrastructure. More in photo gallery

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THREE city districts were asked to take emergency drainage measures yesterday as floodwater rose past the warning level.

The Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters asked the Qingpu, Jinshan and Songjiang districts to open sewage pipes to lower water levels.

Heavy rain, tidal flows and floodwater being released from nearby Lake Taihu in Jiangsu Province pushed water levels in the districts past the warning point.

Early yesterday, the level at Mishidu, in Songjiang District, was 0.2 meters above the warning level. Officials expected it to remain above the warning level this morning.

The heaviest rain from Monday night's storm fell on Songjiang, which had 27.1 millimeters, the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau said.

Continuous rain has pushed the water level of Lake Taihu to 3.83 meters, about 0.3 meters higher than the warning level. The lake authority has ordered the lake be drained through the Taopu River into the Huangpu River.

"Drainage from the lake will put pressure on flood prevention in the western area of Shanghai," said Zhang Zhenyu, an official with the flood control headquarters.

More rain and thunderstorms are expected in the city from Friday.