By 6 a.m., the water level at Wangjiaba hydrological station reached 27.53 meters, one meter higher than the Monday's level and1.53 meters above the alert line.

Water levels also exceeded the alert line at other major hydrological stations, according to water control authorities of east China's Anhui province.

The Huaihe river valley has entered the rainy season and most places along the river have received heavy or torrential rains since Sunday.

The sluices along the Huaihongxin River, a major distributor of the Huaihe River, were opened early Tuesday morning to divert surging flood waters.

(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2003)