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China quake victims flee villages near epicenter due to fear of floods By The Associated Press BEICHUAN, China - Thousands of Chinese earthquake victims fled areas near the epicenter yesterday, fearful of floods from rivers blocked by landslides rattled loose in this past week's powerful temblor. Soldiers carried older people out of Beichuan town - one of the areas hit hardest by the magnitude 7.9 quake, whose confirmed death toll jumped Saturday to nearly 29,000 - while survivors cradled babies on a road jammed with vehicles and people. Advertisement A policeman said rescue officials were worried water from a choked river would inundate the town. "The river was jammed up by a landslide; now that may burst. That is what we are worried about," the policeman said as he hurried by, not giving his name. "I'm very scared. I heard that the water will be crashing down here," said Liang Xiao, one of the people fleeing. "If that happens, there will be over 10 meters (yards) of water over our heads.'' The official Xinhua News Agency said earlier that a lake in Beichuan county may burst its bank at any time. Residents left for higher ground, but 46 seriously injured were still at risk, the agency said. Further north, a mountain sheared off by the quake cut the Qingzhu river and covered three villages in a valley near Qingchuan. No traces remained of the villages, swallowed up by a huge mound of earth, behind which water from the river was backing up. Xinhua said more than 2,000 people were evacuated near that area. Rain began to fall in Qingchuan county last night for the first time since the initial quake, the agency reported - increasing the risk of floods and more building collapses, and worsening living conditions for homeless survivors sheltered under tents and makeshift canopies. The confirmed death toll rose yesterday to 28,881, cabinet spokesman Guo Weimin said. The government has previously said at least 50,000 people were believed killed in the disaster. More than 10,600 people remained buried since Monday in Sichuan province, the regional government said, according to Xinhua agency. Rescue teams from South Korea, Singapore and Russia began work yesterday, joining Japanese specialists. A U.S. Air Force cargo plane loaded with tents, lanterns and 15,000 meals left Hawaii on yesterday, the first aid flight from the United States to help in Sichuan province. Another Air Force delivery was to fly in from Alaska. The United Nations announced a grant of up to $7 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund, to be used by UN agencies and programs. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nothing to fear Nancy Pelosi in Israel: I trust all presidential candidates in regard to Israel. Bonfire drama Mount Meron grave of famed rabbi at center of ownership row between rival Sephardic and Ashkenazic trusts.

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