Aerial photo shows a flooded area in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China.

At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising.

Chongqing, located in the upper reaches of China's biggest river, upgraded its flood-control response to Level-I on Tuesday, the highest rung in the four-tier emergency response system for floods.

At least 250,000 residents of Chongqing have been relocated to safe places. 

Aerial photo shows rescuers patrolling a flooded section of Nanbin Road in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Rescuers patrol a flooded section of Nanbin Road in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Rescuers patrol a flooded section of Nanbin Road in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Aerial photo shows rescuers patrolling a flooded section of Nanbin Road in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Aerial photo shows rescuers patrolling a flooded section of Nanbin Road in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Aerial photo shows a flooded section of Nanbin Road in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Stitched photo taken with a drone shows the Yangtze River and the downtown area of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 20, 2020. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 20, 2020 shows floodwater passing through the downtown area of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

 

Photo taken on Aug. 20, 2020 shows floodwater passing through the downtown area of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Yangtze River's water level in Chongqing Municipality exceeded historical high earlier Thursday morning, posing unprecedented threat to the metropolis in southwest China. At around 8 a.m. Thursday, the water level at the Cuntan hydrologic station in Chongqing reached 191.55 meters, 0.14 meters higher than the record in 1981, and was rising. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)