(XU GUOKANG)

Anqing in east China's Anhui Province inundated in flood waters after the largest recorded rainfall in 100 years hit the city on July 13.

Rainstorms since July 8 had triggered floods in 10 provinces and

municipalities along the Yangtze River by July 13, affecting 19.26 million people and more than 1.03 million hectares of farmland. At least 51 people were killed. Direct economic losses have been estimated at 11.6 billion yuan ($1.7 billion).

Water conservancy experts have warned of the possibility of massive flooding in the Yangtze River valley equivalent to1998 that resulted in more than 3,000 deaths and 166.6 billion yuan ($24.5 billion) in damages.