The Yangtze River No. 1 Flood and the Jialing River No. 2 Flood in 2021 ran through the downtown area of Chongqing on September 7, which was the biggest one in the city since the start of this year's flood season, according to an expert from the Chongqing Municipal Water Resources Bureau. Relevant district- and county-level administrative departments of water resources and relevant units are required to pay close attention to the changes in the water and rain situation and take concrete steps to inspect water conservancy projects, mountain flood high-risk areas, weak links, and risk points of flood control, as well as the riversides.

The Ciqikou Hydrometric Station of the Jialing River and the Cuntan Hydrometric Station of the Yangtze River reported that the peak water level exceeded the flood-stage and warning levels, respectively.

Flood situation

According to the Hydrological Upstream Bureau of the Yangtze River Commission, at 11 o'clock on September 7, the Ciqikou Hydrometric Station of the Jialing River at Shapingba District monitored that the peak water level reached 185.77 meters (Wusong Height Datum), 0.13 meters above the flood-stage level (185.64 meters).

At 13:45 on the same day, the Cuntan Hydrometric Station of the Yangtze River at Jiangbei District monitored that the peak water level arrived at 181.66 meters (Wusong Height Datum), 1.16 meters above the warning level (180.50 meters). That is, the water ran at the volume flow rate of 46,700 cubic meters per second.

After consultation and deliberation, the Chongqing Municipal Water Resources Bureau upgraded the emergency response for flood control to level II at 11:30 on September 7.

Relevant district- and county-level administrative departments of water resources and relevant units are required to pay close attention to the changes in the water and rain situation and take concrete steps to inspect water conservancy projects, mountain flood high-risk areas, weak links, and risk points of flood control, as well as the riversides.

Meanwhile, through strengthening the management of dangerously weak reservoirs and high cut slopes in the Three Gorges reservoir area, the bureau notifies the units and the people in advance at both banks in the upstream and downstream reaches to evacuate, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.

In addition, the municipal flood control and drought relief headquarters decided to upgrade the alert against river floods, mountain flood disasters, urban waterlogging, and the emergency response for flood control to level II from III at 10 o'clock on September 7.

Hold fast to the positions

At the office of Chaotianmen Sub-district, Yuzhong District, a few minutes past 18:00 on September 7, Liu Changyou, a community volunteer, said to his colleague who will take over his shift at night, "The riverside footpath at the Wharf 10 has collapsed. Residents should be informed again."

Liu reported the danger to his superior immediately after finding the collapse of the footpath caused by the flood.

The slope of the wharf was damaged by a rare flood last year before the area was listed as a risk point for geological disasters, where the collapse occurred.

On the morning of September 7, workers set up a warning line and posted warning signs 50 meters in the front and back of the collapse site. The district urban management bureau installed baffle boards at both ends of the site.

At present, Chaoqianlu Community has organized community workers and volunteers to watch the cave-in site in shifts 24 hours a day and inform residents of the flood control situation via a WeChat group and a small loudspeaker.

Lines of defense

At noon on September 7, the brown Jialing River was lapping against the stone ladder at Yinglongmen Wharf, Ciqikou Ancient Town, Shapingba District.

Yinglongmen Wharf has the lowest altitude in the ancient town. There are two warning lines on the road from the wharf to the Yinglongmen gate.

Zhao Ke, a member of the urban management team, keeps reminding residents who want to crowd in to pay attention to safety.

Zou Yaning, a member of the sub-district emergency response team, is responsible for the second line of defense near the waterside, which is guarded in shifts 24 hours a day.

In addition, the Ciqikou Sub-district also set up more than ten guard posts on the waterside streets and lanes in the ancient town, where workers are on duty in shifts 24 hours a day.

"We are prepared for the Jialing River No. 2 Flood in 2021 about 40 hours in advance," said Zhao Jiaping, director of the Emergency Response Office of the Ciqikou Sub-district.