Meter-deep water floods part of Huaihai Lu

At approximately 1:30 this morning, a section of Huaihai Zhong Lu was flooded by what Shanghaiist suspects was a broken water main. Local residents -- Shanghaiist included -- trudged up the sidewalk in waist-deep murky brown water to higher ground. The area affected seemed to begin around the corner of Wulumuqi Lu, by the old US Consulate building, and continue past Ambassy Court down to the Shanghai Library. At least one Dazhong taxi was stranded in the center of the street where the water was about one meter deep. Police cars blocked the street as officers looked on in bewildered amazement.

Last month, Shanghai's Deputy Mayor Yang Xiong, who is also commander-in-chief of Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters, told a conference that the city was well prepared for this year's flood season. One presumes he was referring to natural disasters, not trouble with the water system.

Apparently the water has subsided but that section of Huaihai Lu was still closed to traffic today at the time of this posting. Folks in the neighborhood were seen discarding damaged furniture -- perhaps that means there will be even larger crowds at Carrefour this weekend.