Measures taken to lower Reservoir

Watch Video>>

Heavy rains have pelted 28 counties in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. In Luocheng county, the Kama Reservoir is overflowing, forcing thousands to evacuate.

Chinese residents gather near floodwaters threatening the Kama  reservoir dam after heavy rains in Luocheng, southern China's  Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Friday, July 3, 2009. Over  300,000 people have been moved in southern China after heavy rain  toppled houses, flooded roads, and damaged a reservoir channel,  China's official Xinhua News Agency said.(AP Photo)

The heavy flow of water from spillways destroyed a 13.5-meter section of a dyke near the base of the Kama Reservoir dam.

Efforts to repair the dam had to be abandoned.

Measures have been taken to increase the water released from the Reservoir.

The Kama Reservoir's capacity is 9.3 million cubic meters, and it is 39 meters high.

Luocheng County Government organized the evacuation of over seven-thousand-five hundred people living downstream for fear the dam might collapse.

Sixteen temporary shelters were provided for more than six-thousand of the evacuees, with another 12-hundred staying with relatives.

The Guangxi regional government is distributing relief supplies to the displaced -- essentials such as bottled water and food.

A road to the reservoir, closed by the heavy rain, has now been reopened to transport relief supplies.

The local meteorological department issued a heavy rain warning on Friday.