• There have been as many as 200 collapses and landslides near the county seats of Wenchuan (the epicentre) and Beichuan, reported Xinhua. The information is based on the analysis of remote-sensing images that show 27 landslides occurred along the Min River, and a further 43 slides blocked roads in the area.

• Premier Wen Jiabao said in a State Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon that the water levels of high risks dams need to be lowered or the reservoirs completely emptied, reported the New Beijing News (Xinjinbao). He also said more experts and rescue workers were needed to watch reservoirs and dams in the disaster zone 24 hours a day.

• Zhu Bing, vice director of the Sichuan Water Resources Bureau, ruled out the connection between the earthquake and the cascade of dams built along the Min River, at a news conference held in Chengdu yesterday afternoon, reported Xinhua.

“First of all, I don’t think there is a connection between the earthquake and the dams on the Min River; second, the first priority has been the safety of the dams on the valley and we are watching really carefully; third, if anything takes place, we will make emergency plans to get people there rescued and protected.”