Chongqing- The Chongqing Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Committee issued a report on July 8th regarding heavy rains over the past 24 hours. Districts and counties including Jiangbei, Yubei, Hechuan and Wulong saw rainwaters accumulate to a depth of 20 cms. The stagnant water has since been removed.

Beginning 8pm, July 7th, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall have occurred in most parts of Chongqing Municipality, and have been mainly concentrated in the northern parts of central and western Chongqing.

The Mengantan Hydropower Station located in Yunyang County opened flood gates in response to intense rainstorms. (photo/ Chen Jianhua -Visual Chongqing)

Pengshui, Changshou, Yubei, Beibei, Dianjiang, Hechuan, Bishan, Fengdu, Wulong, Fuling, Dadukou, Yongchuan, Jiangbei, Nanchuan and 14 other districts and counties reported maximum rainfalls of 97.6 mm at 93 local meteorological stations.

According to monitoring data from the Municipal Hydrological Monitoring Station, Northeastern Chongqing has continued to see heavy rains since July 7. Small and medium rivers in Yunyang, Fengjie, Wanzhou, Wuxi, Wushan, Kaizhou are at high risk of flooding, and local departments have warned that the river levels may continue to rise.

In response to the flood situation, the Chongqing Water Resources Bureau has maintained a level three emergency response in flood defense, and has issued five major reports concerned with early warnings and strengthened inspections to protect the lives of citizens.