BEIJING — Chinese authorities have called for rigorous anti-flooding measures along the Yellow River, the country's second-longest, as water levels continue to rise following heavy rainfall, the Ministry of Water Resources said on Sept 27.

The water flow at the Tongguan hydrology station in the middle of the river has increased rapidly, reaching 5,020 cubic meters per second at 3:48 pm on Sept 27.

According to the National Climate Center, rainfall in northern China hit 421.4 mm this summer, 33.9 percent above normal, and the most since 1995.

The wetter weather will persist in many parts of northern China in September, the center said.