Experts to probe reservoir dam collapse

TAIYUAN - A team of experts has been assembled to investigate the cause of last week's reservoir dam collapse in North China's Shanxi province, the reconstruction headquarters announced Monday.

Leading experts nationwide have been invited to join the team.

The cave-in of an irrigation tunnel of the Quting Reservoir in Hongtong county on Friday morning led to the collapse of a 100-meter-long stretch of the dam.

Railway and highway traffic has resumed in the area and reconstruction work has also started, according to the headquarters.

Local authorities have allocated 4 million yuan ($634,920) to aid residents affected by the collapse, the headquarters said.

Each of the 593 affected families have received 500 yuan in relief funds, as well as relief supplies from local governments.

The local government also dispatched 600 soldiers and 500 local officials on Monday morning to help with relief work.

As of Monday afternoon, water and power supplies in the affected areas had resumed, according to local authorities.

The reservoir, built in 1959, has been rebuilt and extended several times. Experts said its engineering conditions are complicated.