WUHAN — A massive flooding similar to the one in 1998 that killed thousands of people is likely to occur this year, if downpours continue to batter the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, a flood-control official has warned.

"Although the current situation along the Yangtze River has yet to reach the danger level, it is definitely at a crucial point," Wang Jingquan, director of the flood control and drought relief office affiliated to the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee, told China Daily on Wednesday.

Monitoring results from the committee suggested that as of Wednesday, the water level of all sections of the Yangtze River had exceeded the annual average level for mid-July, Wang said.

Since June 7, water levels of the Jiujiang section and Boyang Lake along the Yangtze River have gone beyond the alert level twice. The water level at the Three Gorges Dam reached 150 meters, 5 meters higher than the alert level during flood season.

"We are definitely facing great challenges in flood control along the Yangtze River because heavy rainfalls usually hit the river valley in July and August," Wang said.

The three massive floods in the Yangtze River valley in 1975, 1983 and 1998 all occurred in July and August, he said.

"There will be no room for optimism as the incoming Typhoon Conson will add to the grave situation in flood control," Wang said.

"If heavy rain hits the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, coupled with the continuous rainfall in the middle and lower reaches, severe flooding similar to that in 1998 will occur."

In the summer of 1998, China experienced its worst flooding in parts of the Yangtze River basin, which killed 4,150 people and forced 18.4 million to be relocated. Economic losses totaled 255 billion yuan ($37 billion).

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters also forecast that a recurrence of the massive flooding in 1998 is possible because of similar weather conditions this year.