国内英语新闻:Water exceeds guaranteed level at freshwater lake

CHANGSHA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Water at one of the hydrological stations at China's second-largest freshwater lake has exceeded the guaranteed level due to continuous rainfalls and upstream inflows.

At about 3 a.m. on Sunday, water at the Chenglingji hydrological station of Dongting Lake, in central China's Hunan Province, reached 34.56 meters, 0.01 meters higher than the guaranteed level, and 2.06 meters higher than the warning level, according to local authorities.

The guaranteed water level refers to the upper limit of the water level that ensures the safety of the embankments and affiliated projects.

When the lake water exceeds the guaranteed level, it means that flood control is in a state of extraordinary emergency. In addition to all-out rescue efforts and flood diversion measures, it is also necessary to make preparations for mass displacement of the public, said Jiang Dongqing, an official with the provincial center of hydrology.

On July 4, water at the Chenglingji hydrological station rose to the warning level of 32.5 meters and continued going up. The station is forecast to have a peak water level of 34.65 meters between July 13 and 14.

At around 5 p.m. on Saturday, Yueyang City, where the hydrological station is located, lifted the emergency response to floods to level II, the second-highest level of China's four-tier emergency response for floods.