Yellow River sees first flood peak this year

ZHENGZHOU -- China's second-longest river, the Yellow River, saw its first flood peak this year due to continuous rainfall in its middle reaches, authorities said Thursday.

Peak flow at the Longmen Hydrological Station in Central China's Henan province reached 6,010 cubic meters per second at 1:06 am, exceeding the warning level of 5,000 cubic meters per second, according to the Yellow River Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

The headquarters issued a notice to the flood control authorities of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong provinces to be alert to the peak flow. The provinces are required to prepare sufficient flood control materials.

Heavy rain has fallen in the middle reaches of the Yellow River since Tuesday and caused floods in some tributaries. The rainfall reached 234 millimeters in Zizhou county in Shaanxi.

Rain will continue for the next few days, according to the local weather department.