Special report: Reconstruction After Earthquake
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The aerial photo taken on May 26, 2008
shows the landslide mud that formed the Tangjiashan quake lake near
Beichuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The
earthquake-induced lake is at risk of bursting and threatening thousands
of people downstream. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of
Finance said Wednesday that the government allocated 200 million yuan (28.6
million U.S. dollars) from the central budget for Sichuan Province to deal with
the swelling lakes formed by this month's devastating earthquake.
Many such lakes are threatening to burst and flood
downstream areas.
Landslides from the massive earthquake created 34
"quake lakes" in the mountainous province, with 28 still at risk of rupturing,
according to the relief headquarters of the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR).
The largest, and of most concern, is the Tangjiashan
lake. As of Tuesday, it was holding 130 million cubic meters of water and the
water level was 727.02 meters, up 1.82 m. from Monday and only about 25 m. below
the lowest part of the barrier, said MWR chief engineer Liu Ning.
Some 26 excavators are working non-stop to dig a
diversion channel to drain the lake, which is expected to be completed around
June 5 barring any adverse weather.
Liu also denied reports on Wednesday that said air
force bombers might be used to drain the lake. "It's totally groundless," he
said.
An estimated 158,000 people will have to move if the
Tangjiashan lake bursts its banks. So far, more than 100,000 people in Mianyang
City have been relocated.
More people being evacuated from
swollen lake area in southwest China
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The aerial photo taken on May 26, 2008
shows Chinese armed policemen work on the landslide mud that formed the
Tangjiashan quake lake near Beichuan County in southwest China's Sichuan
Province. The earthquake-induced lake is at risk of bursting and
threatening thousands of people downstream. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)
Photo Gallery>>> |
CHENGDU, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese emergency workers are
aiming to evacuate another 80,000 people from the area downstream of a swelling
earthquake-induced lake by midnight on Tuesday.
Altogether 158,000 people will have to move from
their homes if Tangjiashan Lake bursts its banks. So far, more than 100,000
people in Mianyang City have been relocated.
Two other plans require the relocation of 1.2 million
people if half of the lake volume is released, or 1.3 million if the barrier of
the quake lake fully opens. Full story
China preparing to drain swelling
quake lake
MIANYANG, Sichuan, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers are
preparing to dynamite the barrier of a swelling quake lake, which has posed a
new threat after a devastating 8.0-magnitude temblor ravaged southwest China's
Sichuan Province.
Helicopters had airdropped professionals and
materials for the operation by 7:49 a.m. Monday onto the dam of the barrier lake
at Tangjiashan in Beichuan County, which was formed by landslides that blocked a
local river known as Jianhe after the May 12 earthquake. Full story
Two fresh aftershocks hit China quake
zones
CHENGDU, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Two fresh aftershocks struck
earthquake-hit areas in China Tuesday afternoon, as the nationwide death toll
from a massive quake two weeks ago has risen to 67,183.
A 5.4-magnitude aftershock hit Qingchuan County in
Sichuan Province at about 4:03 p.m. and another 5.7-magnitude aftershock hit the
neighboring Ningqiang County in Shaanxi Province, according to the China
National Seismological Network. Full story
Armed police brigade arrive at major
quake lake in Sichuan
TANGJIASHAN, Sichuan, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A group of armed
policemen arrived on foot at the Tangjiashan quake lake in southwest China's
Sichuan Province around 00:35 a.m. Monday and immediately began work to defuse
the danger of a major flooding.Full story
Rescuers hiking to large Sichuan quake
lake as flood alarm grows
MIANYANG, Sichuan, May 25 (Xinhua) -- About 1,800 armed
police officers and People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers were hiking on
Sunday toward an expanding "quake lake" in southwest Sichuan Province, hoping to
blast away its landslide barrier before it bursts and causes a flood.Full story
