Flooding along the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River began in mid June and extended into early August. There were two major periods of heavy rains: from June 23 to June 30 and from July 15 to July 19. Flooding occurred along the Yangtze and its tributaries as well as Dongting Lake, Tai Lake and Poyang (Boyang) Lake. The June storms primarily affected the provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing and Sichuan. By July 1 there were 110 flood related deaths reported throughout China, and by July 5 the level of the Yangtze had risen above warning thresholds in its middle and lower reaches. By July 12 water levels on all sections of the Yangtze, which are monitored by 13 stations between Yichang and Datong, had surpassed the warning mark for the first time this year. The storm in mid July caused severe floods in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Yunan Provinces. This year, water levels came close to the record levels set last year, but overall the flooding caused much less damage and was about a month less in duration. Officials have credited the flood prevention and relocation work that were undertaken after the 1998 flood season for limiting damage and fatalities. According to recent news and government sources, the 1999 Yangtze floods caused 725 deaths, 5.5 million displaced people, and destroyed over 11.3 million hectares of harvestable crops. Compared to last year's floods, this was 28% of the deaths; 58% of the relocations and 52% of the area of farmland that was affected in 1998.
Some notes:
The middle and lower courses of the Yangtze were receding as of August 3.
Hubei Province: frequent rainstorms since June 15. Affected areas: Huanggang, Xianning, Huanshi, Ezhou, Wuhan, Xiantao, Xiaogang and Jizhou. Wuhan and Xianning cities. Yangtze, Hanjiang, Wujiang, Dongjing and Jialing Rivers
First Yangtze flood peak passed Wuhan on July 7; 2nd peak (27.7m) on July 11; 3rd peak (28.67m) on July 20. At Yichang, 52.87m on July 19. Yangtze fell below warning line at Wuhan on August 5.
Anhui Province: continually hit by torrential rain between June 16 and July 1. In June record rainfall in Wuhu county- 816 millimeters. Xuancheng district, Huangshan city. counties: Anquing, Chizhou and Xuancheng. Anui in a state of emergency from July 20 to August 11. Qingyi Jiang River
Jiangxi Province: water level in Jiujiang city had risen to 22.21 m on July 19 - levels had been above danger mark since July 1. The highest water level at Jiujiang reached 22. 43 m, (0.6 meter below last summer's record high). Other affected areas: Jingdezhen, Shangrao, Jiujiang, Yingtan, Yishun and Fuzhou. Yangtze, Xinjiang, Cangjiang, Meijiang and Gingjiang Rivers and Poyang Lake
Zhejiang Province: rainfall reached 700 mm in some areas. flooding in 45 cities and counties in northern part of province. Water levels on all major rivers & reservoirs rose to all time highs. Flood waters diverted at Yuhang city. severely affected cities and counties were: Changxing, Ping Lack, Jiashan, Haiyan, Huzhou, Kaihua, Shengqiu, Shengxian, Dongxian, and Haining. Quintang River
Hunan Province: 'massive dike breach' along Yangtze near Yiyang city on July 23. Yuanshui and Lishui Rivers and Dongting Lake.
Henan Province:12 counties had rainfall above 200 mm between July 3 and 9. 107,300 hectares of autumn crops inundated
Additional Provinces affected in mid July: Sichuan Province:45 dead; 2.7 million hectares flooded;$133 million US damages Yunnan Province: 31 people dead; 26,700 hectares inundated; 60.2 million US damages Guangxi Province: Flooding and landslides had killed six people and washed away roads (July 19-20)
MAP A: Yangtze and Yuan Jiang Rivers and Dongting Lake in Hunan Province, China
MAP B: Qingyi Jiang and Shuiyang Jiang Rivers and Nanyi Hu in Anhui Province, China
MAP C: Dongjing and Yangtze Rivers in Hubei Province, China
MAP D: Yangtze River Near Jianli in Hubei Province, China
MAP E: Yangtze River and Tributaries Near Wuhan in Hubei Province, China
MAP F: Poyang Lake and Tributaries in Jiangxi Province, China
