Rescuers have finished digging a diversion channel to drain the Tangjiashan barrier lake in Southwest Sichuan Province. The lake was formed when the river was blocked by rocks and mud from the mountains during the earthquake.

The complete construction of the channel means that the region is ready to deal with possible flooding.

Our reporter Liao Jibo has more.

Reporter:

After digging the channel, most of the rescuers and engineers have gradually retreated to the neighboring Mianyang city.
Only a few of the rescuers are still at the lake area to inspect the draining process.

Liu Ning, chief engineer with the Ministry of Water Resources, said the channel is necessary to ensure the safety of the lowers regions.

''We are paying close attention to the weather condition now. Anyway, the diversion channel is ready, and I believe it can reduce damage to the minimum.''

Liu Ning added that if there is no rain on Monday, the lake water is estimated to pass through the channel on Tuesday.

More than 110,000 people from nearby Mianyang city, which is threatened by flood, have been evacuated so far.
Those who are still in the city have been through evacuation drills.

Song Bin is the head of Chengxiang Community in Mianyang. He is one of the officials organizing the evacuation drills.

''Through the drills, we can become familiar with the emergency plans, including the procedure and route. We can also find out some problems, so that it will be much safer in real conditions."

Evacuees will be staying in tents midway up the hills or on other higher grounds. Local officials have projected that about 160 thousand people will have to move if the lake bursts over its banks.

The May 12 earthquake has left over 69 thousand people dead as of midday Sunday, and more than 18 thousand others are still missing. Mianyang is one of the worst hit cities in the earthquake.

Liao Jibo, CRI news.