Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front C) is
helped as he inspects the drainage of the Tangjiashan quake lake in
southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu
Weibing) Photo
Gallery>>>
MIANYANG, Sichuan, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao went to oversee the safety of the Tangjiashan quake-formed lake by
helicopter on Thursday afternoon.
"Now it's a critical moment for the Tangjiashan quake
lake, and the most important thing is to ensure there is no casualty of the
people," Wen said.
Wen inquired about the water level and future
rainfalls. "The lake condition is even more complicated than expected, but we
must remove the hidden threat as soon as possible, because many evacuees are
still living inside tents. It's very hot. There may be more difficulties as time
goes."
"It's our obligation to protect the people's safety.
As long as the Tangjiashan quake lake still poses a threat, our task is not
over," Wen said.
He urged the troops to devote themselves to coping
with new challenges.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front L)
speaks as he inspects the drainage of the Tangjiashan quake lake in
southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu
Weibing) Photo
Gallery>>>
After days of continuous work, soldiers and
technicians have dug out a 400-meter-plus channel to drain the water in the
quake lake. And more than 200,000 people downriver have been relocated.
Wen also visited the Russian aircrew who joined local
forces in the fight against the quake lake, expressing appreciation for the mand
the Russian government and people as well.
He arrived in Mianyang of southwest China's quake-hit
Sichuan Province Thursday afternoon and immediately boarded a helicopter to
Tangjiashan.
It's the third time for the premier to visit the
earthquake areas since May 12.
The possibility of the Tangjiashan "quake lake"
bursting increased on Thursday as water levels rose steadily.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front R)
listens as he inspects the drainage of the Tangjiashan quake lake in
southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu
Weibing) Photo
Gallery>>>
A headquarters spokesman warned late on Wednesday
that the chances of bursting were increasing due to uncertainties, including
aftershocks, rain on the upper reaches and the instability of the mud and rock
dam.
The May 12 quake triggered massive landslides in
Sichuan, blocking the flow of rivers and creating more than 30 unstable
"quake-formed lakes" that threaten millions of people downstream.
The 8.0-magnitude quake centered on Wenchuan County,
about 100 km southwest of Beichuan, has left more than 69,000 people dead, about
18,000 missing and millions homeless. More than 10,000 aftershocks have been
reported since May 12.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes
hands with a crew member of the Russian aircrew who joined local forces in
the fight against the quake lake as he inspects in the Tangjiashan quake
lake in southwest China's Sichuan Province on June 5, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu
Weibing) Photo
Gallery>>>
MIANYANG, Sichuan, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The
possibility of flooding from the Tangjiashan "quake lake," caused by China's May
12 earthquake, increased Thursday even as water levels rose steadily to the
point where engineers believe they may be able to open a drainage sluice.
The water level at Tangjiashan Lake in Beichuan
County, Mianyang City, southwestern Sichuan Province, had risen to 738.81 meters
by 5 p.m. on Thursday, 0.9 meters higher than that of 5 p.m. Wednesday. It was
still 1.19 meters below the drainage sluice, according to the lake control
headquarters. Full story
BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- China National Petroleum
Corporation (CNPC) said on Thursday the Tangjiashan quake-lake in Sichuan
Province may destroy the company's pipeline in the area.
The water reserve of the quake-lake was more than 200
million cubic meters as of Thursday. The probable bursting of the lake would
pose risks to the Lanzhou-Chengdu-Chongqing oil pipeline. It is 60 km from the
lake. Full story
CHENGDU, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The plan to drain the
Tangjiashan "quake lake" in southwest China's Sichuan Province is due to be
implemented by Thursday or thereafter, with the trapped water volume having
risen to 211.6 million cubic meters as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The volume was 200.8 million cubic meters at 8 a.m.
Tuesday, according to the quake control and relief headquarters with the
Ministry of Water Resources (MWR).
The water level has been moving higher. It stood at
737.78 meters at 2 p.m. Wednesday, up 0.25 meters from 8 a.m. The water level
was just 1.37 meters from the lowest point of the blockage. Full story
