SHI YU/CHINA DAILY

Reducing the human and material impact

Cheng Xiaotao, a senior expert with the National Committee for Disaster Reduction

However, economic growth-induced urbanization has exposed the weak point of this practice: After a majority of the able-bodied villagers migrated to cities in search of better-paying work, it became increasingly difficult to mobilize enough people to "defend" the dikes.

Besides, just one breach in a dike can allow large volumes of water to gush out and inundate nearby places in a very short time, causing huge destructions. As Ningxiang continues its fight against floods, there have been reports of several dike breaches causing deaths and destruction.

It's time we changed our approach to fighting floods. For example, East China's Anhui province has found a novel way to reduce the human impact and financial loss of floods. Local officials in the province have deliberately kept a section of some dikes lower than the rest so that after reaching a certain level excess water can flow out through the lower section of the dikes.

Indeed, the onrushing water will cause damage, but not as much as when a dike collapses. And since the dike will still be intact, officials will have ample time to evacuate residents and minimize casualties.