Rescuers help transfer people trapped by a flood on a farm in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on August 13. Weeks of continuous rainfall raised water levels of several major rivers in the province, forcing the closure of six ports along the Sino-Russian border. Some scenic spots along the rivers have been closed temporarily for the safety of visitors. According to the provincial water resources department, 2.3 million people across the province have been affected by the flooding, which has also incurred direct economic losses of 8.4 billion yuan ($1.37 billion). (WANG YONGGANG) |