Xiangjiang River sees 1st flood peak

Xiangjiang River in Central China's Hunan province is a major tributary of the Yangtze River. On Saturday, the 850-kilometer long stream experienced its first flood peak this year. It was triggered by torrential storms ravaging south China over the past few weeks. The surge in water levels is now moving downstream -- flooding many low-lying areas along the way.

Flood prevention departments have been standing by on high alert since Friday afternoon. They were responding initial predictions that the flood peak would pass the first hydrological station in Hunan Province at 11pm on Friday. But the peak flow didn't arrive until 10 am Saturday. The delay caused water levels in the lower reaches of the river to surge even higher. The water level has already exceeded the warning mark by four meters in Qiyang hydrological station.

Deng Xiaojun, Director of Qiyang Hydrological Bureau , said, "The water level is only 0.7 meters short of topping the previous record of 88 meters. Qiyang is under serious threat."

The water level began to recede three hours later after the flood peak passed. But the damage to Qiyang County is irreversible. Houses and farmland in eleven townships and villages are now inundated with water. Meanwhile, the tops of these railings are the only sign of this submerged bridge.