Flood surge places Jingzhou at high risk
Warnings about the worsening flood situation in China have resulted in tens of thousands of people being called in to protect the city of Jingzhou. Located on the banks of the Yangtze and home to more than 5 million, the city is vulnerable to flooding but this year's flood surge is the highest for 9 years accompanied by the worst rainfall for 60 years. The authorities have declared 620 kms of river bank around the city at risk along the length of the Yangtze which flows for 3219km across the country.
Previous flood incidents have caused thousands of deaths but the worst recorded year was in 1954 when 33000 are reported to have been killed.