NANJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The water resources department of east China's Jiangsu Province raised its flood alert level to the highest of red for the Nanjing section of the Yangtze River at 9 a.m. Saturday after a record-high water level was seen in the section.

As of 7:50 a.m. Saturday, the water level at the Nanjing hydrological station in the provincial capital rose to 10.26 meters, exceeding the previous highest level of 10.22 meters, which was recorded in 1954.

The department said high water levels and mass flows of the river will maintain for a long period of time, with the flood control situation grim. 

People take photos at a flooded park near the Yangtze River in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Photo taken on July 18, 2020 shows a water gauge of a hydrological station in Yangtze River in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Photo by Su Yang/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on July 18, 2020 shows the Yangtze River in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Photo taken on July 18, 2020 shows the flooded Yangtze River in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.(Photo by Zhang Meng/Xinhua)■