Flood fears force huge evacuation in China

New Delhi, May 29: Fears about the onset of floods in the aftermath of the May 12 earthquake in south west China, has forced the authorities to undertake a huge evacuation exercise to prevent the further loss of lives.

With the earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks having already claimed over 68,000 lives and the collapse of over 400,000 homes in 17 days, the Chinese Government appears quite determined to minimize loss of live and property through a series of emergency safety measures. Local residents in Sichuan, northern Shaanxi and eastern Chongqing have chosen to sleep outdoors in makeshift tents.

Over 150,000 people were evacuated from areas near the Beichuan Dam, as engineers continue to dig a diversion channel to prevent flooding.

Chinese troops are digging a diversion channel near the Tangjiashan Lake to prevent it from bursting its banks and compounding the misery of millions of people residing downstream, reports the China Daily.

More than 600 engineers and soldiers are working non-stop at the lake site to dig the channel.n Tianlin village, among the first to be flooded if the lake bursts, gongs and loudspeakers have directed 680 villagers to rush to surrounding hills within 20 minutes.

ANI