Repair of collapsed dam starts in Shanxi

With the reservoir collapse in Shanxi Province, local authorities say repairs to the reservoir dam have begun.

The reservoir is almost empty now, with rest of the water driven out. Roads connecting the downstream villages are still under water, with some parts destroyed. Officials say affected houses will be checked to decide whether they are safe for living.

The age of the reservoir is being blamed for the collapse. It was built in 1959, with a designed storage capacity of 19 million cubic meters of water. The dam was strengthened in 2004.