Dike blown up in central China to disperse floodwater

Armed police soldiers prepare for the breach of the embankment on the dike of Niushan Lake in central China's Hubei Province, July 13, 2016. The Hubei provincial government Tuesday decided to break the embankment between Liangzi Lake and Niushan Lake, to prevent possible flood overflow over the dike. The operation will be executed on July 14. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

WUHAN, July 14-- Armed police blew up a dike between two lakes in central China's Hubei Province Thursday morning to disperse surging floodwater.

In the southeastern suburbs of Hubei's capital Wuhan, the 3.7-km-long embankment separating Liangzi Lake and Niushan Lake was destroyed at about 7 a.m., according to local authorities.

This move is supposed to bring down the water level of Liangzi below safety level.

Liangzi is the second largest lake in Hubei, which has been among the regions worst hit by the recent deadly downpours. Due to persistent rain since mid-June, water level of the lake hit record high, 0.12 meters above the safety level.

A total of 1,658 people were evacuated for the explosion.