Northeast China has been racing against time to drain floodwater from rice fields to minimize damage to rice production caused by heavy rain and flooding.

The region was been hit by the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri in the beginning of August and local governments in the three provinces: Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning, issued multiple flood alerts and evacuated residents. Reports say that Heilongjiang Province issued 15 flood red alerts between August 2 and 4.

Northeast China is one of the country's main grain-producing areas and most famous rice cultivation areas. Rice is a major grain globally and one of the top three crops in China. 

In the city of Wuchang, Heilongjiang Province, home of the famous Wuchang rice for its unique flavor and texture, more than 40,000 people were relocated, and vast areas of paddy fields remain soaked. According to local farmers, the flooding couldn't have happened at a worse time.

"This is the time when rice is least tolerant to rain and cannot withstand being soaked in water. A reduction in the rice crop yield is inevitable. We only hope that the rain stops soon, and the floodwaters quickly recede, so we can minimize the damage to the greatest extent," a farmer told China News Service.

"Currently, the local rice is in the heading and flowering stage, and has poor tolerance to water immersion. My paddy field was flooded yesterday afternoon. If the water can recede within two days, the loss is still manageable. But if it's inundated by water for more than three days, there will be no rice harvested in those fields," a local farmer surnamed Wang told Tide News of Zhejiang Province about her 20 hectares of paddy fields on Friday.

Currently, the damage to rice production is still being calculated. 

Local governments in the region have activated emergency response mechanisms, sending personnel and equipment to drain floodwater, clean the silt and enhance dikes.

The deadly flooding claimed 14 lives in Jilin Province. 

China's Meteorological administration predicts that heavy rains will continue on August 10-12 in northeast China, as Typhoon Khanun affects the area.

Heilongjiang Province issued two yellow alerts at 8 p.m. on Monday for possible flash floods and geological disasters, following its two blue alerts for flooding, said the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters. Typhoon-induced heavy rains have pushed the water level of dozens of rivers in Heilongjiang above warning markers.

(Cover image via CFP, with inputs from China Daily and Xinhua)

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