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CNN Live At Daybreak

Despite Forecasts of Rain, Dongting Lake Holding Level

Aired August 26, 2002 - 05:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's head to China now, to the Hunan Province. The water level at a huge lake is holding steady, although the forecast calls for more heavy rain. Officials warn that several cities and dozens of villages along Dongting Lake still face the threat of serious flooding.
On the phone with an update is our Beijing bureau chief, Jaime FlorCruz -- good morning, Jaime.

JAMIE FLORCRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

It rained a little bit this morning but so far today it's still sunny. The Dongting Lake dikes have survived a huge flood crest over the weekend and the officials here are cautiously optimistic that the worst is over, at least for now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And they're still busy working on the levies and the dikes?

FLORCRUZ: Indeed, they are. We just saw a group of them on an embankment along the Dongting Lake and these battalions of emergency workers are guarding the dikes around the clock and checking for any leaks and breaches. And they rush sand bags and stones to plug them.

So the city of five million (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is hopeful that the water level will continue to recede before another round of rainfall and flood crests hit the lake -- Carol.

COSTELLO: How extensive have the evacuations been?

FLORCRUZ: There are an estimated 300,000 people so far have been evacuated, especially those people who live along the banks in the lower areas. And they've been evacuated either onto higher, safer places or in schools and government offices -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Three hundred thousand people? That's just mind boggling. The death toll from this, Jaime?

FLORCRUZ: The death, so far there's been no official death toll yet. One local media reported three deaths. But we haven't been able to confirm that.

In any case, it's been -- the damage here has been minimal and it's quite amazing that so far they have been able to control the flood without much damage to lives and property -- Carol.

COSTELLO: OK, well, you stay safe out there, Jaime. FLORCRUZ: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Jaime FlorCruz reporting live from China this morning.

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