The Yellow River, China's second-longest river, has seen its first flood of the year following torrential rainfall, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources announced on Monday.
Due to heavy rainfall in the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River from Friday to Sunday, the water flow at the Tongguan hydrological station on the river's main stream had surged to 5,010 cubic meters per second by Sunday evening, surpassing the threshold for meeting flood criteria.
Affected by the combined flow from the Weihe River, the largest tributary of the Yellow River and the northern main stream of the Yellow River, the flood was formed at 23:00 on Sunday, according to the commission.
It is expected that the water level will continue to rise, and the flood control situation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River remains severe, the commission said.
Due to rainfall, the Weihe River and the Fenhe River, the second largest tributary of the Yellow River, have experienced floods exceeding warning levels. In terms of flood origins, the current Yellow River flood is primarily sourced from the Weihe River, marking the largest flood recorded in mid-October for the Weihe River historically.
"The flood occurred relatively late. The Tongguan hydrological station experienced a flood of over 5,000 cubic meters per second, the latest since 1964. There has been abnormal increase in precipitation. Since the beginning of October, the middle reaches of the Yellow River have seen four significant rainfalls, with cumulative precipitation being 6.5 times higher than the same period in previous years, marking the highest levels recorded historically," said Zhang Bingduo, director of the Planning Division of the Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention Bureau of the Yellow River Conservancy Commission.
The Tongguan section of the Yellow River, where the river meets the Weihe River, saw a significant rise in water level on Monday. In response to the passage of the peak flows, local authorities have promptly activated a Level IV flood control response. They have organized personnel to clear the riverbanks and implemented temporary control measures in low-lying areas, such as scenic spots along the banks, prohibiting access to ensure safety. Local authorities have also informed that the peak flow of this section is currently stable.
The Yellow River remains in its flood season, with water levels anticipated to continue rising. Peak flood flows are expected to reach approximately 6,000 cubic meters per second around Wednesday. The commission said it will enhance monitoring, forecasting and early warning systems.
Additionally, it will urge local authorities to implement comprehensive flood prevention measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.
China has been numbering floods since 1998. This practice can remind the public of which rivers are flooding and enhance public awareness of flood risk prevention. It also alerts flood control departments about the potential risk of embarkment failures and the need to strengthen flood prevention work.
China's second-longest river experiences first flood of 2025 after torrential rain
