The World - News from Aug. 16, 1988

Floods threatened a city of 1 million people in northeastern China as the rain-swollen Nengjiang River rose to its highest level in almost 40 years, local officials said. More than 12,000 people were evacuated from settlements along the river in Heilongjiang province as the river breached its banks in several places. No new deaths or injuries were reported, but 10 people died and 2,000 homes were destroyed when the upper reaches of the river overflowed last week. Workers raced to build up dikes along the river as the 1 million residents of Qiqihar braced for a crest expected Thursday.