Currently, ice-jam prevention in the Yellow River enters a critical thawing period. From February 19th to 22nd, Mr. Liu Weiping, Vice Minister of Water Resources, led a team to the Inner Mongolia section of the Yellow River, to guide local authorities in ice-jam prevention.
Liu Weiping highlighted that it is imperative to ensure the safety of people’s lives and properties and guarantee no dike breaches in the mainstream and tributaries of the Yellow River. Thus, the following ice-jam prevention measures need to be effectively enhanced. Firstly, to closely monitor weather and ice-jam regime, strengthen consultations, and timely release forecast and warning information. Secondly, to schedule Liujiaxia reservoir and Wanjiazhai reservoir adequately, and put flood retention areas into use at the right moment. Thirdly, to monitor river safety and remove obstacles hindering flood discharge, such as floating bridges. Fourthly, to patrol critical sections on dikes, and arrange emergency materials, equipment and rescue teams in advance, so as to tackle hidden risks promptly and timely. Fifthly, to revise emergency plans on ice-jam prevention, and implement detailed evacuation and relocation measures to ensure the safety of people’s lives.
At present, the lower reach of the Yellow River has started thawing, while 681 km of the upper and middle reaches are still frozen. It is predicted that the Bayingol River section in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region will begin to thaw in early March, and all the frozen river sections of the Yellow River in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region will break up in mid-March.
Source: INTCE