The Chinese mainland's water authorities have announced the first nationally recognized flood of 2025 along the Luanhe River, a critical waterway in the Haihe River Basin, as torrential rains test flood control systems across northern China. The designation marks the official start of this year's flood season, with implications for infrastructure safety and regional disaster preparedness.
At 4:30 a.m. Monday, the Panjiakou Reservoir on the Luanhe River recorded an inflow surge to 2,270 cubic meters per second – a figure expected to nearly double by nightfall. This rapid increase follows days of intense rainfall that have already forced the evacuation of over 3,000 residents in Beijing's Miyun district, located within the same river basin.
The Ministry of Water Resources' Haihe River Water Conservancy Commission has activated emergency protocols, emphasizing enhanced levee inspections and real-time monitoring. China's unique flood numbering system, operational since 1998, serves dual purposes: alerting communities to specific river threats while maintaining historical records for infrastructure planning.
Meteorologists warn that climate patterns suggest increased flood risks this season, particularly in northern watersheds. The current emergency highlights the delicate balance between urban development and natural water management in one of Asia's most densely populated regions.
