e-magazine
The Hot Zone
China's newly announced air defense identification zone over the East China Sea aims to shore up national security
Current Issue
· Table of Contents
· Editor's Desk
· Previous Issues
· Subscribe to Mag
Subscribe Now >>
Expert's View
World
Nation
Business
Finance
Market Watch
Legal-Ease
North American Report
Forum
Government Documents
Expat's Eye
Health
Science/Technology
Lifestyle
Books
Movies
Backgrounders
Special
Photo Gallery
Blogs
Reader's Service
Learning with
'Beijing Review'
E-mail us
RSS Feeds
PDF Edition
Web-magazine
Reader's Letters
Make Beijing Review your homepage
Hot Links

cheap eyeglasses
Market Avenue
eBeijing

Video
South China Floods> Video
UPDATED: June 29, 2010
Thousands Evacuated after Flood Gate Bursts
Share

 

A small leak in a discharge gate along a dyke on the Xiangjiang River in Xiangtan City, central China's Hunan Province quickly became a gushing breach on Friday, flooding the local community.

To ensure the embankment of the river itself is not damaged, thousands of soldiers have been dispatched to protect it.

Water from the Xiangjiang River poured through the damaged gate, flooding the surrounding area. Buildings close to the leak were submerged as deep as their first floors.

An irrigation expert says the 40-meter-high water level of the Xiangjiang River created too much pressure on the discharge gate and it collapsed. With the height of water on both sides of the dyke reaching more than 5 meters, there are now fears for the Xiangjiang River embankment. Efforts to stop the surging water are running into problems. Boats can't get close because of the position of the gate and soldiers couldn't place a stone cage in an accurate position.

After trying to insert two stone cages, the original plan had to be abandoned. Instead, they tried to build up a platform under the gate. The soldiers then started to use sand bags to block the leak.

By 2 p.m., more than 12-hundred local residents had been evacuated to a safe location. Local authorities are currently trying to draft a plan to seal the leaking discharge gate.

(CNTV.cn June 26, 2010)



 
Top Story
-Protecting Ocean Rights
-Partners in Defense
-Fighting HIV+'s Stigma
-HIV: Privacy VS. Protection
-Setting the Tone
Most Popular
 
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved