Sluices opened to alleviate flood-hit areas of the Huaihe River

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-11-2007 10:16

In the central Chinese province of Henan, 13 flood gates have been opened at Wangjiaba. Emergency crews are scrambling to divert flood waters from the swollen Huaihe River to the adjacent Mengwa buffer zone.

The opening of the sluices has brought relief to more than two million flood-hit residents on the upper reaches of the Huaihe River. It also alleviated pressure downstream.

The diversion began at midday. The water released could damage up to 12,000 hectares of cropland inside the Mengwa buffer zone. But the impact on local residents is expected to be limited, because most of them live on elevated lands. Those living in low-lying areas had been moved.

Officials say Tuesday's flood diversion was not the end of efforts to keep Huaihe River from flooding. More buffer zones would be used if the flood situation worsened.