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Amid race to drain lake, emergency plans proceed

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-28 21:42

An aerial view of Tangjiashan lake near Beichuan county Sichuan province May 28, 2008. [Xinhua]

However, the rise in the water level at the lake has slowed down. From 7 p.m. on Tuesday to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, it only rose by 83 centimeters, according to Yang Hailiang, a leading on-site rescue operation officer.

At least 50,000 cubic meters of debris would have to be removed to build the diversion channel on the blockage body. Rescuers, however, were aiming to remove 100,000 cubic meters of debris if the weather allowed.

Altogether, 158,000 people threatened by the swollen quake lake in 169 communities of 33 townships, Mianyang, were evacuated to safe ground as of Wednesday in line with an emergency plan drawn up for the contingency of one third of the Tangjiashan lake volume bursting its banks.

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 fully opens.

The diversion channel won't be in place until June 5, experts with the Mianyang quake relief headquarters said.

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