A major dike breach occurred in Dongting Lake, located in Huarong County, central China's Hunan Province, at 5:48 p.m. on Friday. The breach followed failed emergency repair efforts and has resulted in the evacuation of 5,755 residents, with no reported injuries so far.
As of 10 p.m. on Friday, the breach measured approximately 8 meters in width and 150 meters in length. A significant amount of lake water has overflowed from the gap with a fast flow rate, affecting an area near Tuanbei Village that covers about 50 square kilometers. This area previously experienced a dike breach in 1996.
Emergency response teams have dispatched sand carrier ships to the scene, and trucks are being used to fill the gap. To accommodate the relocated residents, local governments have provided 1,000 tents, 3,200 folding beds, 3,200 summer cooling mats, and 3,200 mattresses. 🏠🚚
Dongting Lake is China's second-largest freshwater lake. Since June 16, Hunan has been experiencing the strongest rainfall this year, breaking local historical records in some regions. 🌧️💧
