After two days of non-stop digging, the drainage sluice for the barrier lake at Tangjiashan is now 50 meters long, only a quarter of its planned length. Vice prime minister Hui Liangyu is there to guide the rescue work.

After two days of non-stop digging, the drainage sluice for the barrier lake at Tangjiashan is now 50 meters long, only a quarter of its planned length.

Over the top of this mountain is the Tangjiashan barrier lake.

Excavators are working there day and night to dig a 200 meter long sluice to divert the water.

Vice premier Hui Liangyu stresses the rescue work relies on the cooperation of people, the army and experts. He also encouraged the rescue team and expressed his great confidence in their ability to defuse the danger of flooding.

Experts have intensified their monitoring of the barrier lake, as the water level rose 1.79 meters on Tuesday.

Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said, "The best way is to open an aqueduct to lower the water level. Otherwise there will be more water stored in the quake lake. It will no doubt increase the danger to people who are downstream of the river. We are now racing against time."