Heavy rain triggered floods in the Daquan River which runs in front of the Mogao Grottoes. The shortest distance between the river and the heritage site is no more than 100 meters.

An initial investigation showed that the cultural relics of the Mogao Grottoes had not been affected by floods or rainstorms so far, said Luo Huaqing, deputy director of the Dunhuang Academy of China.

Workers have started to pump flood in front of the Mogao Grottoes since Saturday night. Now, there is no ponding as a result of heavy rain in front of the heritage site.