HEFEI -- A cofferdam in east China's Anhui Province has burst, flooding five villages along the Huaihe River, local authorities said on Thursday.

The Xudahu cofferdam, located just outside Xianzhuang village, Qianmiao Township in Fengtai County at a tributary in the middle reaches of the Huaihe River, burst at around 1:00 p.m.

All 2,000 residents from the five villages were evacuated last Sunday. No casualties have been reported yet.