Water levels have been rising since last Sunday at the middle reaches of the Yangtze River after rainfall at the upper reaches, ending low water levels in this summer's flood season that have threatened normal navigation.

By 2 p.m. Friday, the water level of the Yangtze River at Yichang and Shashi in central China's Hubei Province reached 45.5 meters and 36.04 meters respectively, according to local maritime sources.

Heavy rain or even rainstorms hit the middle and upper reaches from Thursday morning to Friday morning, leading to a 6-meter rise in water level of the Yangtze River and its tributary Jialing River, said local flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The continuous rise of water levels has helped alleviate the severe navigation situation because of shallow water from the worst drought in 50 years to hit southwest China's Sichuan and Chongqing this year.

But maritime departments of the Yangtze River also warned of sudden rise or fall in water level during the autumn season which bring risks for ships.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2006)