China: 69 dams in danger after earthquake

CHENGDU, China-Nearly 70 dams scarred by the force of China's most powerful earthquake in three decades were in danger of bursting, rattled again Sunday by one of the strongest aftershocks since the initial disaster. Meanwhile, soldiers carrying explosives hiked to a lake formed by a blocked river near the epicenter, hoping to blast through debris to alleviate the threat of floods.The confirmed death toll from the May 12 quake rose to 62,664, with another 23,775 people missing, the Cabinet said. Premier Wen Jiabao has said the number of dead could surpass 80,000.An aftershock Sunday afternoon caused office towers to sway in Beijing, 800 miles away. There was no immediate information on any new damage.The magnitude 5.8 aftershock was among the most powerful recorded, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The China National Seismic Network, which uses a different measurement system, said the aftershock was the strongest of dozens since May 12.The aftershock lasted about 20 seconds in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu. At one teahouse, customers scurried into an open courtyard. "It's scary, but we're getting used to it," said Mary Nong, a 46-year-old telephone company worker.The Water Resources Ministry said in a statement Sunday that 69 dams in Sichuan were in danger of collapse. It did not give further details.The government had earlier said the quake affected 391 dams, mostly small structures.Sichuan is home to the world's largest water project, the Three Gorges dam, located about 350 miles east of the epicenter. Authorities have said it was not damaged in the quake.Another issue complicating rescue work has been new lakes that were formed from rivers blocked by landslides unleashed in the quake.
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