Sluices discharge water from reservoir

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In the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, two channels are being dug to discharge water from a reservoir to prevent it from bursting. The reservoir dam is in danger of collapsing after several days of heavy rainfall.

The Kama Reservoir in Luocheng County has been  overflowing with a dangerously high water level  of over two hundred meters.

The Kama Reservoir in Luocheng County has been overflowing with a dangerously high water level of over two hundred meters.

To resolve the situation, two channels, each 15 meters wide and 10 meters deep were being dug on Sunday to discharge some water from the reservoir.

Ma Qingchun, Head of 1st regiment of Armed Police Hydropower Troops, Guangxi, said, "We have been digging since 3 p.m on Saturday and were planning to finish in two days. But we completed the project in just 26 hours. "

The process has so far proved effective. And more sluices will be opened at a later stage to speed up the discharge of water.

But experts say the reservoir dam is still in danger of bursting.

More than 15,000 people living downstream have been evacuated by an emergency squad of 6,000 rescuers.

The evacuees have received temporary shelter and relief supplies.

A evacuee said, "The floods can not reach us now. We are very safe here."

The evacuation comes after a sudden surge of water flow destroyed a 13-meter section of a dyke near the Kama reservoir dam base.