China's Ministry of Finance earmarked another 1 billion yuan (US$144 million) on Thursday to finance plans and measures to deal with the swelling lakes. Earlier, the ministry had earmarked 4 million yuan on defusing threats of these lakes.

In several towns in Mianyang where people have been evacuated, soldiers cordoned off the streets and set up checkpoints to prevent residents from returning home. Those who do have to return have to obtain permits from the local governments and are allowed to stay no more than an hour.

Paramilitary police officers open a road connecting Beichuan and the swollen Tangjiashan quake lake in Sichuan province on Thursday, May 29, 2008.

Paramilitary police officers open a road connecting Beichuan and the swollen Tangjiashan quake lake in Sichuan province on Thursday, May 29, 2008.