China evacuates thousands on flood fears after quake
Posted: 17 May 2008 1942 hrs

	Photos  of
	Related News • North Korea offers aid to quake-hit China • China fights to stave off disease, amid miracle quake rescues • China steps up battle to prevent epidemics in quake zone • Survivors emerge as China quake rescue intensifies • Foreign rescuers join frantic search for China quake survivors Special Report • Picture Gallery on China Earthquake

BEIJING : China has started to evacuate more than 2,000 people on fears of floods stretching for 40 kilometres (25 miles) in the wake of a deadly earthquake, state media said Saturday.

Monday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake set off landslides that clogged the Qingzhu river, creating a body of water in Sichuan province that is already overflowing into a nearby village, Xinhua news agency said.

The quake weakened the soil in the area of Hongyuang township and if the water level rises by several metres, an area stretching at least 40 kilometres would be inundated, it said.

Authorities have started to evacuate more than 2,000 people, some of whom were staying in makeshift shelters after the earthquake, Xinhua said.

Experts were also considering setting off an explosion to divert the water, it said.

More than 50,000 people are estimated to have died in the earthquake, which has been followed by nearly 150 strong aftershocks with a magnitude of above four. - AFP/ms