Heavy rainfall has battered the Taohe River basin in northwest China's Gansu Province since July 13. 

Sediment levels in the Tao River reached their highest point of the year, posing a major threat of clogging and erosion to the hydropower equipment.

The Liujiaxia plant opened its sediment discharge gates at 8:49 a.m. on Tuesday, launching continuous silt-flushing operations to safeguard the facility.