HEFEI, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Hydrologists predict a flood crest on the Huaihe River, a major watercourse in east China, will peak just below the danger level on Thursday, which could avoid possible crop losses for farmers.

    The crest is expected to pass Wangjiaba Hydrometric Station, a major flood-monitoring station in Anhui Province on Thursday afternoon, peaking at about 28.3 meters, 0.8 meters above the warning level, and only 0.7 meters below the danger level, according to the Huaihe River Water Resources Committee.

    The water level at the Wangjiaba in Funan County rose from 20.51 meters on 30 June and it will continue to rise as more rainstorms are forecast in the upcoming days.

    The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued a flood warning on Tuesday and told related authorities to "make preparations" and stay alert.

    On Wednesday the headquarter ordered local departments to prepare adequate personnel and flood-control materials, and to make preparations for diverting the flood waters to nearby reservoirs, lakes and buffer areas if necessary.

    If the water level rose to a height above the danger level, sluices could be opened and croplands in the buffer areas could be affected.

    The flood-prone Huaihe River cuts across China between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, running through Henan Provincein central China and east China's Anhui and Jiangsu provinces before entering the Yangtze River via the Hongze Lake.

    A sluice on Hongze Lake was opened on Wednesday morning in discharge water and maintain a safe level. It was the first discharge from the lake this year.