The Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, will experience its largest flood peak this year on Tuesday night, according to the Yangtze River flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The dam will experience water flow rates as high as 70,000 cubic meters per second at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The flow rate has steadily increased since the evening of July 22 and is expected to keep climbing, with more rain expected in the river's upper reaches. In preparation for the surging flows of water, local authorities in Hubei and Hunan provinces have launched level-3 emergency response procedures.

Over 36,000 personnel are on alert and keeping a close watch on the water level. China's flood control authority issued an emergency notice on Monday ordering local authorities to prepare for a possible flood.

(CNTV.cn July 24, 2012)