Nearly 10,000 in Sichuan evacuated after landslide in Sichuan-Tibet border area

CHENGDU - Nearly 10,000 people in Southwest China's Sichuan province have been evacuated after a landslide blocked the Jinsha River and the water level of a barrier lake continued to rise.

The information office of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture government in Sichuan said Tuesday that, as of 3 p.m., 9,964 people including local residents and workers along the river have been evacuated.

A large landslide hit the border area between Sichuan and Tibet Saturday, leading to the formation of a barrier lake. The downstream area of the Jinsha River has been cut off by the blockade while the upstream water level keeps rising.

The water level of the barrier lake has risen 33.88 meters since Saturday.

Police and militiamen have been sent to help evacuate locals and keep order.

The landslide-hit area will see a significant drop in temperatures in the following days, with snow and rain predicted to hit the area.