Tangjiashan lake drains faster, alert remains

In the latest development of the Tangjiashan barrier lake, engineers at Tangjiashan remain alert for possible landslides that might destabilize the lake.

Water is finally gushing out of the Tangjiashan barrier lake, after artillery shells and bulldozers were used to widen the drainage channel. Boulders were destroyed and other debris removed.

Shortly before noon on Tuesday, water was draining out at over 6000 cubic meters per second, 60 times faster than a day earlier.

The water level of Tangjiashan has dropped 10 meters since early this morning, reducing the immediate threats posed by the barrier lake. But continuing aftershocks could trigger more landslides, and experts remain alert for any dangers that could affect about 1 million people living downstream.

Zhang Jian, Chief Water Conservancy Expert of Tangjiashan Lake Relief Headquarters said "Firstly, I think people evacuated from Mianyang city must remain where the government has arranged for them to stay, because the next several days will be a very critical time for the draining. Secondly, we will closely monitor the developing situation of the spillway at Tangjiashan quake lake, and will take any further action based on technical assessment."

"I am now standing on bridge over Jianjiang River in Mianyang city. The river was dry yesterday but now a big amount of water is flow through it."

More than 250,000 people from Mianyang city have already been evacuated. And there are also plans to evacuate engineering soldiers from the lake as a dam there is a source of great concern.