Barrier lake forces evacuations in NW China

LANZHOU - A rain-triggered landslide blocked a river in Northwest China's Gansu province, forming a barrier lake that forced the relocations of 2,082 villagers on Thursday, local authorities said.

Measuring 1,200 meters by 30 meters, the barrier lake formed in the Maoyu River in Boyang township, Tianshui city, according to Tianshui's Maiji district government.

The government said the lake was created after 1.3 million cubic meters of mud washed into the river amid heavy rain that has persisted since Monday.

Four villages near the lake have been evacuated, and local authorities are closely monitoring the situation.