China's Second Largest Dongting Lake Embankment Collapses 150m... Xi Jinping Issues Emergency Orders During Tour

Chinese state media, including the official Xinhua News Agency, reported on the 6th that part of the embankment of Dongting Lake (洞庭湖·Dongtingho), the second largest freshwater lake in China, collapsed due to heavier-than-usual rainfall. An embankment refers to a levee built around rivers, lakes, or coasts to prevent flooding or overflow.

According to reports, around 5:48 PM the previous day, a section of the Dongting Lake embankment in Huarong County, Yueyang City, Hunan Province, which was at a dangerous water level, broke. Initially, the collapsed embankment length was about 10 meters, but by around 11 PM the same day, it had expanded to 150 meters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to Tajikistan in Central Asia, upon hearing the news of the accident, instructed that all efforts be made to protect the lives and property of residents. President Xi said, "Some areas have experienced heavy rainfall and prolonged periods of rain, making the situation serious," and added, "There is a high risk of dangerous situations such as flooding."

Collapsed Dongting Lake Embankment Restoration Work
[Image Source= Xinhua News Agency·Yonhap News]

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According to China Central Television (CCTV), authorities safely evacuated 5,755 nearby residents, resulting in no casualties.

Additionally, about 2,100 rescue workers and more than 160 boats were mobilized for emergency repair work. Nearly 10,000 tons of sand and gravel, along with 1,320 tons of rice, were deployed. To prevent flooding, 18 vehicles were even sunk on the collapsed embankment side.

Since the 16th of last month, Hunan Province has experienced the largest-scale heavy rain this year, with some areas recording the highest rainfall ever.

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