China's Anhui raises flooding response level to the highest, downpour forecasted next week

Eastern Chinese province Anhui on Saturday afternoon, upgraded its emergency response for flood control from Grade II to Grade I, the highest of the four-tier system.

According to the provincial government, water in the mainstream of Yangtze River and a key hydrological station, Wangjiaba Station, of Huaihe Lake in Anhui have all exceeded the warning level as another round of strong downpour is forecasted around next Tuesday.

By the time the water level at Wangjiaba Station might pass the guarantee level. 

The 1,000-km-long Huaihe River is one of China's major waterways, running through the east of the country between the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. It saw the first flood of the year on Friday evening.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Anhui Province also moved up its flood and drought emergency response to the highest.