The water level at Jiangba hydrological station on Hongze Lake reached a record level of 14.37 meters by 3 pm Monday, 0.87 meters higher than the warning level, according to the local flood control headquarters.

Due to the high water level in Hongze Lake, China's fourth largest freshwater lake on the lower reaches of the flooding Huaihe River, flooding in east China's Jiangsu Province has worsened.

About 830,000 local residents are patrolling along embankments and 97,000 water pumps were put into operation in a bid to ease the flood pressure.

From 7 pm Monday, the 163.5-km waterway which helps discharge floodwaters from Hongze Lake to the Yellow Sea will increase discharge volume from 1,500 cubic meters per second to 1,800 cubic meters per second in an attempt to lower the water level of the lake.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2003)