Sichuan dam at risk of bursting following heavy rains

A dam in Wenchuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province, is at risk of bursting due to heavy rains, the Ministry of Water Resources said on Thursday.

The dam, part of the Longtan hydropower station on a tributary of the Minjiang River, suffered a power cut due to heavy rains, which caused its flood gates to stop working after lifting only 1 meter on Tuesday.

The water level in the reservoir rose quickly and began to overflow the dam.

The ministry urged local authorities to analyze the impact of a possible flood and evacuate to safety people in the affected areas the same day. The evacuees are not allowed to return until the threat subsides.

On Wednesday, the water level exceeded about 4 meters above the top of the dam. That has overburdened the dam and there is a chance it could burst, the ministry said in a news release.

The ministry said action will be taken depending on the circumstances, and options include forcibly opening the flood discharging gates, or opening a temporary water channel for floods.

The hydropower station was put into use in 1996 and was severely damaged by the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. After more than four years' reconstruction, the hydropower station resumed operation in 2013.