Satellites Assist Relief Operations After Dike Breach in Central China

Satellites Assist Relief Operations After Dike Breach in Central China
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 09, 2024

China has deployed several remote sensing satellites to support rescue and relief efforts after a dike breach on Friday at Dongting Lake in central Hunan Province.

The China Centre For Resources Satellite Data and Application (CRESDA) reported that Gaofen-3 02, Gaofen-3 03, Gaofen-1, and Gaofen-4 satellites are providing real-time monitoring of the affected areas.

CRESDA confirmed that as of Saturday, satellite imaging has been conducted five times, and the data has been quickly relayed to relevant departments.

The dike breach occurred Friday afternoon in Tuanzhou Township, Huarong County, under Yueyang City, causing flooding in the area. Thousands of rescuers, including firefighters, hydrologists, volunteers, and police, are working around the clock to protect lives and properties.

Satellite images show extensive flooding in areas previously identified as meadows or land, with a significant reduction in land area and an increase in water surfaces within Dongting Lake, worsened by inflows from upstream tributaries exceeding alarm levels.

"We will continue to closely observe the disaster situation in Huarong County and provide remote sensing satellite data and analysis services for flood rescue and relief, disaster assessment and other work," CRESDA said.

In addition to CRESDA's satellites, many commercial satellites are also participating in the relief efforts. Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. has deployed its Jilin-1 Kuanfu 01A satellite, which captured high-resolution images of Dongting Lake on Saturday morning. These images showed the breach widening to 226 meters with extensive local inundation.

Smart Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. used its SmartSat-X1 satellite to gather detailed data on the disaster area. Beijing Minospace Technology Co., Ltd. activated its Taijing-4 01 and Taijing-4 03 satellites for the mission. Taijing-4 03 completed imaging at 10:53 a.m. on Saturday, revealing a disaster zone spanning approximately 12.645 km in diameter and affecting an estimated area exceeding 42 square km. Taijing-4 01 identified potential hazardous risks in some southern areas of Dongting Lake.

The company has shared this information with relevant authorities to enhance their situational awareness and response capabilities.

Dongting Lake has historically faced flood challenges, and the area near Tuanbei Village now covers approximately 50 square km, similar to a dike breach incident in 1996.

Since June 16, Hunan Province has experienced its heaviest rainfall of the year, surpassing historical records in some areas.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article