China's Three Gorges Dam ushers in largest flood peak

The Three Gorges Reservoir in Central China's Hubei province is likely to embrace the largest flood in its history on Thursday because of sustained heavy rain, the Ministry of Water Resources said.

Since long-lasting heavy rains affected by the strong subtropical high were stationary over the Yangtze River basin, 51 rivers rose above their warning level over the past week, the ministry said.

On Tuesday, Chongqing municipality was hit by the largest deluge since 1981, as its flood control and drought relief headquarters elevated its flood-control response to the highest level for the first time ever.

About 1,670 people were evacuated from a tourism spot in the municipality, as the local TV news showed buildings half-inundated by the flood.