What’s new: Parts of eastern China have recorded floods and dangerously high water levels as the country continues to battle one of its most destructive rainy seasons in recent memory.
Some 22 rivers and lakes in Anhui province logged water levels that exceeded safety standards on Monday, according to official figures. A stretch of the Huai River, a major Yangtze tributary, burst its banks and flooded surrounding areas.
The deluge occurred after persistent heavy rain began falling across swaths of Anhui from Friday, swelling the Huai and Yangtze basins.
Officials in the province have launched a level-one emergency flood response, the highest in a four-tier system.
The background: China is fighting its worst floods in decades since heavy cloudbursts began soaking the country’s south in June.
At least 141 people have died or gone missing in the inundations and millions have undergone emergency evacuations, according to the emergency management ministry.
China raised its national flood alert earlier this month from three to two, the second-highest level.
Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) and editor Marcus Ryder (marcusryder@caixin.com)
