Over 5,000 prisoners evacuated from a major flood diversion area,
have been securely and safely moved.
The transfer went without a hitch and no escapes, an official from
east China's Anhui Province said.
"All of the 5,079 prisoners are safe and their lives in the new
place have been properly arranged," said a division chief surnamed
Zhou with the provincial Bureau of Justice, which manages jail
affairs.
The affected prisoners were inmates in Baihu Prison, located within
the flood diversion area of Baihu Lake.
Water released from branches of both the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers
pour into the lake to ease levels.
But continuous torrential rain raised water levels in Baihu Lake
from 10.74 meters to 11.82 meters between Tuesday morning and
Wednesday afternoon, taking it over the 11.73 meters alert
level.
Emergency measures became necessary to divert some of the waters in
order to safeguard the lives and property of residents in
neighboring counties and cities.
On
the orders of the provincial flood control and drought relief
headquarters, holes were blown in dykes encircling Baihu Prison,
said Zhou. Before these emergency measures could be taken, the
convicts had to be moved.
This began Wednesday evening and was completed by Thursday
morning.
(China Daily July 12, 2003)
