Woes continue to afflict China one after another lately. After a powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitudes struck the country recently, a county near the epicenter was ordered to be evacuated on Saturday, 17 May as it was feared that a lake would burst its bank and overflow. This has made thousands of residents flee from the area to a zone of safety.  

 

As many as 28,881 people have died in the earthquake and the Chinese government states that the toll could touch even 50,000 in the coming days. The earthquake has caused 4.8 million to lose their homes. The Xinhua news agency proclaimed that 46 acutely injured people were in serious need of assistance in Beichuan, where the water level of the lake was dangerously rising.

 

It also stated there is a strong possibility that the water level may burst its bank. A source informed via telephone that the military was busy evacuating everyone including rescue workers from the Beichuan area. The Hong Kong cable television has reported that some 1.2 million are being shifted from Qingchuan, which is located about 90 km or 55 miles to the northeast of Beichuan.