China holiday rail chaos after reservoir collapse

[John Ashworth]

China holiday rail chaos after reservoir collapse (video)

Feb. 16 - Thousands of rail passengers impacted by reservoir collapse which caused flooding in China...

More than 3,000 rail commuters were affected in China on Saturday after a reservoir in the northern Shanxi province partially collapsed due to old age, according to local officials quoted by state media. The top of an irrigation drain of the Quting Reservoir in Hongtong County caved in at about 07:00 am on Friday, leading to the partial collapse of its dam walls, China state television CCTV reported. Chinese authorities sent a rescue team to deal with the flooding caused by the collapse. Workers blocked the breach with sand bags and rocks. No casualties have been reported, but residents downstream from the reservoir were evacuated from their homes. Three provincial railway lines were suspended after the collapse and more than 3,000 passengers traveling at the end of the Spring Festival were affected. Early reports did not make clear if this was due to flooding or as a precautionary measure. CCTV carried footage showing many passengers getting their tickets refunded at the station.