An aqueduct was demolished in central China due to safety issues.

Video filmed in the city of Yichang in Hubei Province on November 16 shows the longest aqueduct on Dongfeng Canal falling down with smoke rising into the air after it was demolished by explosives.

The aqueduct has a 52-year history. The amount of water it can lead deducted from 14-cubic-metre per second to only 8-cubic-metre water per second, which was unable to meet the downstream water demand anymore.

According to reports, a total of 49 racks and slots on the aqueduct were blown down by the wind. Although it had maintenance and reinforcement several times, it still cannot solve the security risks.

So the aqueduct was demolished and will be replaced by a new one in the near future.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

11月16日12时，湖北宜昌市夷陵区龙泉镇宋家嘴村，伴随着“起爆”声响起，服役52年的东风渠宋家嘴渡槽爆破。
52年来，渡槽经历风吹雨打，1983至1984年渡槽两次、共49个排架及槽身被狂风吹倒，之后经过多次维修加固，但仍不能从根本上解决安全隐患。原本计过水流量为14立方米/秒，现在过水只能承担最大8立方米/秒，早已不能满足下游用水需求。
不久的将来，新的渡槽将拔地而起，将进一步保障东风渠灌区生产生活以及农业用水供水保证率，彻底消除渡槽老旧病险安全隐患，彰显社会效益。
东风渠灌区是全国三十大灌区之一，担负着当阳、枝江、夷陵、猇亭、高新区5个市（区）200万人安全饮水、116万亩农田灌溉和100公里河道生态补水重任，供水区域经济总量约占全市70%，在宜昌市国民经济中具有重要的战略地位。灌区生产的粮、棉、油分别占全市总量的64.8%、100%和60%，素有“宜昌粮仓”的美誉。