China on guard against flooding as Yellow River swells

Chinese authorities have called for rigorous anti-flooding measures along the Yellow River, the country's second-longest, as water levels continue to rise following heavy rainfall, the Ministry of Water Resources said Monday.

The water flow at the Tongguan hydrology station in the middle of the river has increased rapidly, reaching 5,020 cubic meters per second at 3:48 p.m. Monday.

According to the National Climate Center, rainfall in northern China hit 421.4 mm this summer, 33.9 percent above normal, and the most since 1995.

The wetter weather will persist in many parts of northern China in September, the center said.