WEATHER: Huge Landslide in Sichuan

I’m assuming that we’re going to Sichuan province. I know that 2 babies for others in our group are from there so this is relevant to us.

WEATHER: Huge Landslide in Sichuan  

3,000 evacuated after landslide blocks river

9:17pm, 10/08/2007

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes after a huge landslide dammed a river, creating a menacing lake that threatened to burst.

The landslide occurred Friday when an estimated 500,000 cubic meters (18 million cubic feet) of mud and rock tumbled into a river near Guangyuan city, in Sichuan province.

No one was hurt in the landslide, but it created a dam 150 meters (492 feet) long, blocking the river, and creating a lake that began to expand as water flowed in. The lake has submerged about 187 hectares (462 acres) of crop land.

Local authorities began evacuating residents near the site out of fear the dam could collapse at any moment, and have begun work to drain the lake. Officials hope to have the lake drained with two days. The report did not mention the name of the river or what might have triggered the landslide.