Quake Lake Expected to Overflow; 1.3 million Could Be in Jeopardy

More than 1.3 million people in the path of potential floodwaters remain in jeopardy in Sichuan province as officials nervously watch a quake-spawned lake that is rising rapidly.

Authorities in southwestern China completed a spillway Sunday that was designed to drain water from the Tangjiashan lake, which was formed when landslides from the May 12 earthquake blocked a river near Beichuan town. The lake is expected to crest above the top of the spillway sometime Thursday.

The Tangjiashan, which is one of about 35 so-called quake lakes that formed following the 7.9-magnitude quake, has Chinese officials concerned. Heavy rains or major aftershocks could compromise the debris-filled quake dam and send water cascading through valleys filled with earthquake survivor camps.

More than 200,000 have already been evacuated from an area below the Tangjiashan and relief workers have emergency plans in place to get others out quickly.

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