China's Ministry of Water Resources said Typhoon Hongxia will drive significant
river rises across major basins from July 25-30, including the Pearl, Yangtze,
Huai, Yellow and Hai. The Dongjiang in the Pearl River basin may produce a flood
that triggers the official numbering system. Prior heavy rainfall has saturated
soils in the storm's path, raising mountain-flood risk and increasing the
frequency of floods in small- and medium-sized rivers. Combined wind, rain and
tides could push some tide gauges in eastern Guangdong and southern Fujian above
warning levels. The ministry ordered immediate frontline warnings, measures to
secure major rivers and lakes, strengthened reservoir-operation monitoring and
early warning, intensified levee patrols, and stepped-up defenses against
mountain floods and urban waterlogging ahead of the storm.
