Flood Defenses Boosted as Crest Nears Lake
From Times Wire Reports
Thousands of Chinese farmers and soldiers shored up flood defenses around the vast Dongting Lake as a flood crest swept down the Yangtze River toward it.
An estimated 10 million people would be at risk if the lake and river dikes were breached, but many people on the ground voiced optimism that the worst-case scenario could be averted.
The river surge is due Sunday, and officials said they had considered releasing water into the surrounding farmland from which many thousands of people have been evacuated.
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