China’s never-ending woes: Floods follow Covid

After combating the deadly coronavirus infection since late last year, large parts of China are now busy battling floods. The country is facing the worst floods in 30 years as rains continue to pour in central and eastern China.

The floods are so massive this time that China had to declare a red alert after rivers and lakes breached their embankments. Just one week ago, China had raised the emergency response for flood control to Level II—the second-highest level of warning.

Nearly 141 people have died, 28,000 homes damaged, and 3.53 million hectares of crops destroyed. Most of mainland China is severely affected and even large urban centers are facing severe flooding.

Nearly 212 rivers across the country are in spate and are overflowing their banks. The worst affected provinces include Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui and Zhejiang, where water has crossed warning levels. Ironically, Asia's longest river—the Yangtze, which has been in spate for weeks runs through Hubei province which was the epicenter of the deadly Covid-19 virus.

Even the major lakes are badly affected. The largest freshwater lake in Jiangxi province—Poyang Lake, is overflowing its banks. Similarly, Taihu Lake—the country's second-largest freshwater lake, has remained over warning levels for many weeks now.

Also threatened due to the floods is the famous Three Gorges Dam—a monumental structure. Some experts have said the dam itself may be at risk if the rains continue unabated. Even though authorities have been releasing water from the dam, it continues to hold threatening amounts of water.

Companies fear that economic activity, which had begun resuming in China after the coronavirus outbreak, is again getting impacted. Floods will impact employment levels. Local governments, NGOs and volunteers are working overtime—rescuing people from flooded homes and building embankments. The government has also pressed the army into rescue and relief work..