SHANGHAI, Jul 27 -- ABOUT 27,000 villagers in the Linbei Flood Diversion Area near the swollen Huaihe River of Anhui Province have been ordered to evacuate by 7pm today, Xinhua news agency reported.

The water level in the Linbei reservoir in Wuhe County had reached 20.48 meters by 8am today, 0.58 meter higher than its alarm stage, which means floodwater may be diverted to the area.

The area has 36,000 hectares of cropland along with the 27,000 people from the towns of Beihuizu, Daxin and Mohekou, according to the report.

Sluices at the dam have not been opened for several decades, Xinhua said.

Most villagers were advised to go and seek refuge with relatives in neighboring towns.

The rest may stay in 1,400 government-provided tents on higher ground.

Each villager will be compensated 400 yuan (US$52.91).

Meanwhile, the northern river bank in the Linbei area "is very likely" to burst, Xinhua said.

Lu Ying, vice head of Beihuizu, told Xinhua that special teams were dispatched at every 500 meters on the bank to supervise the flood situation.

"They are patrolling the banks of the river every 30 minutes around the clock," Lu said.

Food, drinking water and medicines have been prepared for a possible emergency, said Xinhua.