Society

Dikes breach in E China, 120,000 evacuated

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-17 10:58

HANGZHOU - Two dikes breached in east Zhejiang province Thursday as a result of continuing rains, forcing more than 120,000 people to move to safer places.

At about 6:40 am dikes breached in the township of Jiangzao, Zhuji city near the central part of Zhejiang. A total of 18 villages were flooded and more than 2,500 people were affected.

Seven hours later, dikes in the township of Diankou, Zhuji breached, affecting another 2,516 people.

According to the Zhejiang provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, torrential rains triggered flooding and landslides, toppling 2,470 houses and flooding 351 roads.

A total of 2.09 million people from 43 counties in nine of the province's 11 cities were affected by the disasters.

The Lanxi hydrological station of the Qiantangjiang River monitored the biggest flood crest since 1955.

Journalists reported that many roads into the township of Xiangxi were inundated. Pedestrians tried to ford but returned after taking several steps because the water was too deep.

A man surnamed Xia was trapped under a viaduct when his car stalled. When police pulled him free, the water level was at his waist.

The local government is fighting the flooding with 100,000 woven bags and more than 17,000 cubic meters of wood and sand. Nearly 3,000 vehicles and ships, and 41,130 rescuers were dispatched for disaster relief.

Meanwhile, those affected by the disasters have been provided with quilts, drinking water and instant noodles with the value of more than 300,000 yuan ($46,153.8).