Yellow River flood season enters critical period for opening the river; water conservancy departments implement detailed flood control measures

According to China Water Resources News, due to recent temperature increases, the speed of the Yellow River breaking free from ice in the Inner Mongolia frozen section has accelerated, with an average of about 9 kilometers of river opening per day since February 15. At 10:00 on February 21, the river had opened from the frozen section in Inner Mongolia to the Sanshenggong Control Station (Dengkou County, Bayannur City), which is 18 days earlier than usual, marking the beginning of the critical period for the Yellow River’s opening. Currently, the total length of the river opened is 128.8 kilometers, with 587.5 kilometers remaining frozen. Of this, 554 kilometers of the upstream Inner Mongolia section are still frozen, and 33.5 kilometers of the middle section are frozen. The opening process has been generally smooth, with no major emergencies. Li Guoying, Deputy Commander of the National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and Minister of Water Resources, has demanded detailed implementation of all ice prevention measures to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property, as well as the safety of the levees along the Yellow River’s main and tributary streams. It is forecasted that in late February, temperatures will continue to rise overall, with sustained high temperatures in March, leading to a faster river opening process. By mid-March, the frozen section in Inner Mongolia may be fully open. The Ministry of Water Resources will continue to monitor weather changes and the opening process in the Yellow River basin, organize and guide the Yellow River Water Conservancy Commission and local authorities to diligently carry out ice prevention work, and make every effort to ensure ice prevention safety.