Fighting floods at China's largest freshwater lake

Yu Zhongdai carries a heavy sandbag and puts it down on the Dongsheng South Embankment to prevent water from overflowing. The tide is high and more sandbags are needed.

"I have been fighting the floods here for more than two weeks," said Yu, 33.

Yu is a member of the Communist Party of China and deputy head of the Xingang township government in Jiujiang city, East China's Jiangxi province. The township is situated between Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, and the country's longest waterway, the Yangtze River.

China has entered its rainy season. Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, and the waters of many rivers in the affected regions have exceeded warning levels.

The northern part of Jiangxi province has experienced heavy downpours since July 6, with water rising significantly in local rivers and lakes.

"On July 12, the water level at Poyang Lake reached beyond the guaranteed mark of 22.43 meters, posing a grave danger to the village of Yangjiachang in the vicinity," Yu said.

Amid this situation, Yu led locals to help contain the floods on the Dongsheng South Embankment facing the lake.