Flood fears prompt more evacuations in China

updated 10:26 a.m. ET May 23, 2008

PENGZHOU, China - Earthquake survivors living downstream from lakes formed by blocked rivers were being evacuated Friday for fears that aftershocks could unleash flooding. The death toll rose to more than 55,000 and nearly 25,000 people remain missing.

Hardest-hit Sichuan province also announced plans to rebuild within three years, as it copes with the aftermath of the May 12 temblor that left some 5 million homeless.

Nearly three dozen new lakes were formed after the quake threw down debris that formed barriers across rivers, with water pooling behind them. Those barriers could collapse, unleashing flooding, so they are being monitored by experts, including some dropped in by parachute, said Zhu Bing, deputy director of the Sichuan water resources bureau. Rain was forecast in the region next week.

"In the short-term, we don't think there's any danger," he told reporters in Beijing. "But after all, it's in the disaster area, with aftershocks. If there is a strong aftershock or a strong thunderstorm, there is the danger of collapse."

The death toll rose to 55,740 and another 24,960 people remain missing, said the State Council, China's Cabinet.

3-year plan to rebuild
The province aims to rebuild roads and cities within three years, Li said in Beijing.

In the tiny town of Bailu, about a two-hour drive from the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu, the air was filled Friday with smoke from makeshift brick wood-burning stoves heating large black woks filled with string beans or rice porridge for lunch.

Red banners across the main street in the quake-flattened town nestled between two mountains said, "There is no difficulty that the heroic Chinese people cannot defeat." One long stretch of road was lined with wooden furniture moved out of collapsed homes, and tents were in great demand.

Most of the town's banners urged residents to maintain proper hygiene and prevent diseases.

"It's been a big disaster but the government has been doing a good job and I think the rebuilding work can be done in three years," said Zhang Min, 36, who works for a brick-making company.

Liu Qiang, a teacher at a medical college in Hubei province who came to aid quake victims, said the lack of clean water was causing health problems.

"People are developing rashes and wounds are becoming infected because they're using dirty water," Liu said. "Colds and fevers are also common."

As many as 9,000 injured will be transported to other provinces, Vice Governor Li said, as the large casualty toll has overwhelmed local hospitals in Sichuan. He said more psychologists were also needed to help survivors cope with the tragedy, especially children orphaned by the quake along with students who saw many classmates killed in collapsed schools.

A 25-member Italian medical team set up a mobile hospital Friday in Mianzhu city, where the local hospital has been listing since the earthquake, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

No survivors have been found buried in rubble since Wednesday, but Li said rescuers have not abandoned the search.

"We will not give up on trying to save people," Li said.

Pandas moved
Six pandas were moved Friday from the damaged panda-breeding base in Wolong near the epicenter because of food shortages, Xinhua said.

"There is enough water now, but food is still a major problem. The pandas are in urgent need of bamboo and apples," Xiong Beirong, an official with the Sichuan provincial forestry bureau, told the agency.

Two pandas missing since the quake have still not been located.

An environment official said Friday that all nuclear facilities in the quake area were safe, and experts were still trying to secure some 15 "sources" of radiation.

Video   Earthquake victims protest May 23: Chinese villagers protest when relief supplies ended up on store shelves instead of victims' hands. MSNBC.com's Keva Andersen reports. msnbc.com

Officials had earlier said 32 radioactive sources were buried in the quake. But Wu Xiaoqing, vice minister for environmental protection, said Friday the number had risen to 50 potential radiation hazards and that 35 had been secured. He gave no specifics on what the remaining items were.

Three of the radiation sources were buried out of reach of authorities, Wu said, and another 12 currently inaccessible were being monitored.

The Olympics torch relay ran through Shanghai after a ceremony that began with a minute of silence in People's Square to honor quake victims.

"Now the Sichuan people are suffering from the earthquake and we're lucky to be here. I hope we can all show respect for the Sichuan people, to show we are brave and also show our thanks to the government for their help," said Dennis Jin, a worker with the Shanghai branch of television maker Sichuan Changhong who is a native of the province.

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