BEIJING: Authorities in central China blasted a dam on Sunday to release surging waters behind it amid widespread flooding across the country that has claimed scores of lives. State broadcaster CCTV reported the dam on the Chuhe River in Anhui province was destroyed with explosives early Sunday morning, after which the water level was expected to drop by 70 centimeters (more than 2 feet). Water levels on many rivers, including the mighty Yangtze, have been unusually high this year because of torrential rains. Last week, the gargantuan Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze opened three floodgates as the water level behind the massive dam rose more than 15 meters (50 feet) above flood level. Seasonal flooding strikes large parts of China annually, especially in its central and southern regions, but has been especially severe this summer.

Source: Manila Times July 19, 2020 17:55 UTC