China's Three Gorges Dam Discharge Causes Flooding in Lower Yangtze River Region

In Hubei Enshi Autonomous Prefecture, a landslide created a landslide lake
Two levees were blasted to prevent flooding... Over 500 important Chinese cultural heritage sites damaged

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The downstream areas are suffering from severe flooding due to the discharge from China's Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest artificial dam, causing continuous damage.

In the Enshi Autonomous Prefecture of Hubei Province, a landslide has even created a landslide lake (yansaihu). A landslide lake is a temporarily formed lake created when a large amount of soil and debris flow into a canyon area.

According to local Chinese media on the 22nd, the water level in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (Changjiang) has risen by about 5 meters, raising concerns that the embankment could collapse.

As the discharge from the Three Gorges Dam in nearby Yichang City continues, an evacuation preparation order has been issued for Enshi Autonomous Prefecture.

Currently, the water level of the Three Gorges Dam is 164.4m. Due to the discharge, the water level has slightly decreased compared to the previous day. The dam's "normal flood control water level" ranges from 145 to 175m.

As the discharge continues to lower the water level of the Three Gorges Dam, damage in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is expected to worsen.

In fact, Anhui Province blew up two embankments of the Chuhe River on the 19th to open a waterway. This was a desperate measure to lower the rising river water level. The Chuhe River is a tributary of the Yangtze River and passes through Nanjing City, which has a population of 8.4 million.

According to the interim damage report announced by the Chinese government on the 13th, 141 people have died or gone missing due to the heavy rain. The number of displaced people is 38.73 million. Economic losses are estimated to reach 86 billion yuan (approximately 15 trillion won).

Chinese media also reported that cultural heritage sites in China have suffered significant damage due to the floods.

According to the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China, about 500 cultural heritage sites nationwide have been damaged by the floods, including 76 nationally important cultural heritage protection areas and 187 provincial-level cultural heritage protection areas.

Song Xinchao, Deputy Director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, expressed concern, saying, "The scope of cultural heritage damaged by the floods is wide, and the damage is severe."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.