TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Military China warned that dams destroyed by flooding could add up. This follows the increasing rate of flooding at the Yihetan Dam in Luoyang, Henan. According to a Channel News Asia report, flooding in Luoyang had breached the 20-meter-long Yihetan Dam on Tuesday.
"Bantaran sungai rusak berat dan bendungan tersebut bisa hancur sewaktu-waktu," ujar Tentara Pembebasan Rakyat Cina dalam keterangan persnya, memperingatkan warga Luoyang yang jumlahnya 7 juta orang, Rabu, 21 Juli 2021.
Militer Cina melanjutkan, mereka sudah mengirimkan tim khusus ke Luoyang untuk merespon ancaman yang dibawa banjir itu. Salah satu langkah yang akan diambil adalah mengarahkan banjir ke wilayah lain yang lebih terkendali.
Jika Bendungan Yihetan jebol, maka ia akan menjadi bendungan ketiga yang rusak akibat banjir. Sebelumnya, Bendungan Yong'an dan Xinfa di Morin Dawa Daur, Hulunbuir, yang hancur. Pemicunya, tinggi air Sungai Nuomin yang meningkat sepanjang Sabtu dan Minggu.
People try to break through floods that hit Zhengzhou, Henan, China, July 20, 2021. China Daily via REUTERS
An official statement from the Hulunbuir Government on Monday stated that 16,600 people were affected by the disaster that occurred on Sunday last week. In addition, more than 20 thousand hectares of agricultural areas were submerged because of it.
The damage to infrastructure was also not small, including 22 bridges and almost 10 miles of toll roads destroyed. Fortunately, there were no casualties.
Floods are an annual disaster in China, especially during the rainy season. However, this year, the situation was different. The incessant construction of dams in recent years has cut off rivers and lakes. It disrupts the floodplain’s vital function
As per this report, the number of flood victims in China continues to grow. Floods in Henan, 25 people died. Thousands of people were also evacuated from dangerous areas. In Zhengzhou, for example, 100,000 people were evacuated because railroads and roads had been flooded. The Chinese government says the rains they face are the worst in 1000 years.
Also read: Extreme rain hits China, two dams burst
ISTMAN MP | CHANNEL NEWS ASIA
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