Dam collapses in China, thousands evacuated

Feb 17, 2013 |

Beijing

Thousands of people were evacuated after a dam in north China’s Shanxi province collapsed, causing heavy flooding and damaging highways and rail tracks.

The top of an irrigation water duct of Quting Reservoir in Hongtong county caved in yesterday leading to collapse of its dam walls, official media reported.

No casualties have been reported. Thousands of villagers were evacuated to safety.

The floods damaged a highway and rail lines, leaving thousands of holiday passengers stranded at various places. While the highway was flooded with silt, railway tracks were swept away. Eight railway lines have been shut.

More than 3,000 passengers have been stranded and temporary offices are dealing with ticket returns. Officials said the irrigation duct was built in 1959 and attributed its collapse to its age.

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