The conclusion is based on the high possibility of massive rainfall in the Yangtze's middle and lower reaches during the impending flood season, mainly due to the influence of El Nino, China Daily reports Saturday.

Government officials in provinces along the river must be on the alert from now on, the paper quoted Luo Qingquan, chief commander of the Yangtze River Flood-Control Headquarters as saying.

"We must prepare for possible deluges. We must consider the situation as seriously as many precautions as possible," Luo said.

Until the Three Gorges dam project is completed, provinces along the river are mainly relying on reinforced embankments, reservoirs and floodwater storage areas to control flooding.

Currently, the alert line for the once-breached Jiujiang section of the Yangtze River embankment has been raised ahead of the upcoming flood season due to the improved flood-control capability. The water level of the 196-km section of the Yangtze River embankment was increased by half a meter to 20 meters at three major water level monitoring stations.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2003)