A magnitude 5.3 aftershock struck China's quake-battered Sichuan province on Thursday amid concerns over rising water levels in a lake formed by landslides from the massive May 12 temblor, according to AP. There were no immediate reports of new damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the aftershock struck at 12:41 p.m. (0441 GMT) just south of the town of Qingchuan at the relatively shallow depth of 6 miles (10 kilometers). Authorities had earlier begun evacuating people downstream from Tangjiashan lake, formed above the devastated town of Beichuan, after water rose to within 6 feet (2 meters) of flooding its bank, threatening up to 1 million quake survivors. Authorities plan to drain lake water through a diversion channel as early as Thursday. By noon (0400 GMT), people in the downstream city of Mianyang had begun moving to higher ground. Several tent camps set up to house quake victims were empty and police and army troops were blocking roads into low-lying areas. The flood threat has been exacerbated by waves formed by aftershocks and continued heavy rain in the mountains upstream, the report said, citing unnamed officials monitoring the situation.
