Meanwhile, a total of more than 4,200 emergency rescuers and more than 3,000 pieces of equipment have been used for the rescue efforts, Zhang said at a news conference held in Huarong county on Sunday.

Great efforts have been made to strengthen the embankment that separates the inundated township with nearby ones, she said.

The embankment, viewed as "second line of defense", is located about two kilometers away from the breached dike and is 14.3 kilometers long, according to Xinhua News Agency.