China warns of possible lake burst after quake (1.2 million evac)

UK Reuters ^ | 5/17/08 | By Chris Buckley

[stlnative]

DUJIANGYAN, China (Reuters) - China warned on Friday that a lake damaged by an earthquake in Sichuan province may be about to burst its banks as President Hu Jintao urged rescuers to race to save lives with the toll likely to rise to 50,000.

Forty-six seriously injured people needed to be evacuated immediately in Beichuan, at the epicentre of Monday's 7.9 magnitude quake, where the water level of a lake was rising rapidly and may burst, Xinhua news agency said.

It did not give details but Hong Kong cable television said some 1.2 million people were being evacuated in Qingchuan, about 90 km (55 miles) northeast of Beichuan, as rising waters threatened to burst a lake's banks there.

[stlnative]

1.2 million people were being evacuated in Qingchuan, about 90 km (55 miles) northeast of Beichuan, as rising waters threatened to burst a lake's banks there.

[pepsionice]

If I were the chief engineer who designed the dam...I’d be on a boat out of China and looking for a place to hide out. Once this dam breaks...questions will arise over all of the other dams built in the country...and the leadership is going to be fairly surprised at the shape of things.

[section9]

If you think this dam is filled with shortcuts, scams, and featherbedding for Princelings, Party Hacks, and Young Emperors, imagine what's going to happen to the Three Gorges Dam?

Anyone want to take bets?

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[stlnative]

Ping

[stlnative]

MORE... (it is a lake)

Major floods may hit Chaping County at any time
2008-05-17 02:01:51 ET SINA English

BEIJING, May 17— According to reports released by the “Dipper 1” satellite, aftershocks in Beichuan County, Sichuan Province continuously happen. The water level of Haizi is rising rapidly and major floods may occur at any time, Xinhua said.

At present, local victims have abandoned their home and were transferred to the higher ground. 46 seriously injured people need emergent medical help.

http://english.sina.com/china/1/2008/0516/159588.html

---

7,000 people still trapped in Chaping County
2008-05-17 01:49:52 ET SINA English

BEIJING, May 17—The rescue work of Chaping County, Sichuan Province went slow for the seriously damaged conditions. As by May 17, more than 7,000 people are still trapped under collapsed buildings according to CNS.

The great hit occurred on May 12 almost leveled the Old Street in Chaping County to the ground. 95% of its buildings were collapsed. A rescue relief worker said:“in some places, five bodies were found after one shovel.”

Up to now, there are 242 people identified killed, two missing, and 500 injured in Chaping County.

http://english.sina.com/china/1/2008/0516/159584.html

[Jim Noble]

This may have the same ramifications as the Yerevan earthquake had for the USSR.

[stlnative]

http://www.eitb24.com/new/en/B24_98573/world-news/TRAGEDY-IN-CHINA-Lake-bursts-banks-in-Chinas-Beichuan/

TRAGEDY IN CHINA
Lake bursts banks in China’s Beichuan; thousands flee to the hills
05/17/2008

[stlnative]

It burst...

[stlnative]

Witnesses say there were conflicting reports on whether a dam had burst near Beichuan in the north of the Sichuan province or whether a lake had overflowed.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iXxUvJsbTbaROgZ3FOlB2wid_-YwD90N8Q4G0

[stlnative]

Thousands flee as flood threatens quake-hit town
By Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Beijing - Residents of an earthquake-devastated town in south-western China fled on Saturday as a nearby lake was reportedly in imminent danger of flooding the town.

The residents of Beichuan in Sichuan province began rushing onto hillsides and some clambered onto motorcycles to leave the town as quickly as possible, Ariane Reimers, a correspondent from German broadcaster ARD, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa by telephone.

The river through the town had almost dried up, Reimers said, apparently because earthquake damage had caused a blockage upstream.

~SNIP~

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/05/17/headlines/headlines_30073336.php

[stlnative]

China quake victims flee ‘flood’

There has been panic in the quake-hit Chinese city of Beichuan after a river nearby burst its bank sparking reports it could flood the entire city.

The BBC’s Paul Danahar in Beichuan says there was a stampede as thousands of people fled to higher ground.

The whole city has been evacuated, forcing the suspension of all rescue efforts, our correspondent says.

~SNIP~

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7406109.stm

[stlnative]

UPDATE...

China quake survivors flee due to flood fears
Reports indicate lake may be threatening to burst banks near epicenter

An eyewitness told the British Broadcasting Corp. by telephone that no water had been seen in Beichuan and that residents appeared to be fleeing to higher ground based mostly on fear.

The official Xinhua news agency said earlier the water level was rising rapidly and “may burst its bank at any time.”

~SNIP~

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24676343/

[stlnative]

Ping...

[stlnative]

A Chinese county near the epicentre of Monday’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake has been ordered to evacuate amid fears a lake has burst its banks, prompting thousands to flee to the hills.

Reports are not clear but Hong Kong cable television says 1,250,000 people are being evacuated in Qingchuan, about 90km northeast of Beichuan.

A witness said by telephone the military was evacuating everyone in Beichuan, even rescue workers.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200805172013/1bd5540

[freeengineer]

Are you implying that graft is not production?

whodathunkit.

[ganeshpuri89]

Reuters has withdrawn earlier bulletin saying lake had burst

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK319524.htm

Appears to be holding.

For lack of better euphemism...fog of war.

[stlnative]

Survivors flee rising water levels

Thousands of Chinese earthquake victims have fled areas near the epicentre, fearful of potential flooding from a lake where water levels were reported to be rising dangerously.

The lake in Beichuan county “may burst its bank at any time”, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, without giving details as to what was causing the rise in water level, with no recent rain in the disaster area.

~SNIP~

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hNL0F0GPJH8nLsG2YXoWkZBDqGpA

[stlnative]

I knew about it about a few hours before I posted it in Breaking News. I was waiting to see if it developed any further beyond my original comment post about it on this thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2017193/posts?page=43#43

Saturday, May 17, 2008 1:12:16 AM · 43 of 48
stlnative to brityank
JUST RELEASED...

Major floods may hit Chaping County at any time
2008-05-17 02:01:51 ET SINA English

BEIJING, May 17— According to reports released by the “Dipper 1” satellite, aftershocks in Beichuan County, Sichuan Province continuously happen. The water level of Haizi is rising rapidly and major floods may occur at any time, Xinhua said.

At present, local victims have abandoned their home and were transferred to the higher ground. 46 seriously injured people need emergent medical help.

http://english.sina.com/china/1/2008/0516/159588.html

[stlnative]

It will take some time to evac out 1.2 million people from the area. They must expect it to effect a wide area if it overflows or bursts.

I wonder how many will die due to panic trying to evac.

So very sad... I am going to go to bed and I hope I don’t wake up and read or hear that has burst. I hope that if it does flood out the area that it holds off until the area is cleared of people.

[tet68]

Are you implying that graft is not production?

You gotta pad the “Norm”, a soviet invention, it’s called
Tufta.

It being physically impossible to achieve the “Norm”, one
resorts to creating the appearance of achievement.

Marxism, what a wonderful idea. /S