英语文摘:Attempt to fix embankment breach fails in northwest China

HUAYIN, Shaanxi, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers failed to close a breach of a flooding river embankment in northwest China's Shaanxi Province Sunday,rescue headquarters said.

More than 3,000 soldiers and militiamen have been filling the gap of the embankment of Luofu River with stones and sand bags, and managed to narrow the 80-meter gap into 2 meters, said a spokesman at the headquarters.

But the breach expanded again to eight meters wide as stones and sand bags ran out, he said.

Luofu River, a tributary of Weihe River, breached Saturday morning.

A total of 6,404 people from 1,587 households in Huayin had been evacuated before the flood early Saturday. No casualties have been reported.

Torrential rains pounded Huayin City from 8 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.