[BeauBo]

"can’t they just release water and lesson the pressure?"

They have been releasing water, to slow the rise behind the dam, but they have to balance it against the flood conditions that already exist down river. They get the weather forecast for the upcoming rain, and model the buildup and runoff and such.

Bottom Line: Even though they have been releasing a flood downstream, the water still built up to a record level behind the dam. Once in a hundred year rains.

They reported just this last weekend that the flow rate peaked on Saturday night. Hope the rain lets up.

Releasing excess water at Three Gorges Dam last week:

[shotgun]

This picture reminds me of the old Richard Pryor skit/joke about Tulum when he was told to put his finger in the dike to stop the leak.

Tulum: “Everybody know ain’t a n@@@@@ in the world can stop no water when it want to go”

[deport]

Those blue mask are world wide.

[Political Junkie Too]

I'm sure this isn't the case, but I always love photos that purport to show people who are so engrossed in their smartphones that they are oblivious to what is going on around them.

-PJ