Response level raised for Yangtze flooding

Affected by the heavy rain, water levels in many stations in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have been rising rapidly, according to the commission.

"The water levels at the Qilishan observation station in Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake's entrance have exceeded the warning levels," said a notice released by the commission on Friday.

It estimated that water levels at some stations along the Yangtze River will continue to increase by 0.5 to 1.0 meter in the next few days.