The Yangtze River's largest flood peak of the year passed through the Jingjiang River in central Hubei Province early yesterday and was moving toward Wuhan, the provincial capital.

The crest did not put the flood-prone Jingjiang River at high risk, according to Li Sijun, a hydrologist with the Hubei Provincial Water Resources Department.

Li said the water level in the Yangtze between Luoshan and Hankou was largely below warning levels, except in Shashi and Jianli.

Later reports indicated the water level at the Jianli hydrological station at 8am yesterday was 35.34 meters, 1.34 meters above the warning level. Meanwhile, the water level at the Shashi station was 0.25 meters above the 43 meter warning level.

"At Luoshan and Hankou, the water levels are 29.37 meters and 23.46 meters respectively, both below the warning level," Li said.

He said the flood peak lingered longer than expected in Hunan's Dongting Lake area, China's second largest freshwater lake, because the water level was not very high and there was no big flood from the lower reaches of the river.

As a result, Li said the flood crest would arrive at Hankou tomorrow instead of today as was previously predicted. "The water level is unlikely to top the warning level at the Hankou hydrological station when it arrives," Li said.

But local flood control officials warned it was still too early to let their guard down.

"We'll keep to the 24-hour hydrological monitoring and patrol on river dams in case receding flood water destroys the riverbanks," said Chen Qijing, an official with the flood control headquarters of the provincial water resources department.

The Three Gorges Project passed a severe test.

Meanwhile, in Tibet Autonomous Region, the largest mudflow in five years hit Bomi county.

About 130 residents were affected and were struggling to find drinking water. No casualties were reported.

Source: Xinhua