The Yangtze Maritime Authorities issued a high alert on 29 June warning that more than 1,000 drums were floating downstream towards Jiujiang in Jiangxi province.

The drums, which contain chemicals for pharmaceutical production, were washed down the river by the recent floods. No exact details of the substance were given, but the drums were described as blue and made of plastic or metal, and measuring about 1.2 metres long and 0.8 metres in diameter.

MSA officials want all vessels to watch out for the floating objects and report to the authorities as soon as possible. Efforts are being made to salvage the drums.