Chinese water resources experts warned that the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will face a tougher flood control situation as a result of more predicted flood water this summer.

There will be two rainy belts in north and south China this summer. One lies on the southern bank of the Yangtze River. The rainfall in the coming three months will be 10 to 20 percent more than last year, said Cai Qihua, director of the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee, at a national conference on meteorological trend in China held in central China's Hubei Province.

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River experienced a cold spell last winter after 18 years of warm winters. This year also witnessed an unusually cold spell in an otherwise warm early spring.

Historical records show floods are likely to occur in the wake of an abnormal meteorological and hydrological cycles, Cai said.

The banks of the Yangtze River have an improved flood control capacity after large scale reinforcement in recent years. Some of its tributaries, however, are still weak in holding back flood water. Cave-ins take place at some rivers from time to time.

Cai called for efforts to "make full preparation" for flood control, improve existing quick response plans and accelerate flood control project construction.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2005)