The water level of a rain-swollen lake in central China today climbed far past the danger mark, increasing pressure on dikes that were keeping flood waters from swamping six cities and dozens of villages.

CHINESE authorities have evacuated 600,000 people from around the dangerously swollen Dongting Lake as it threatens to engulf millions more, state media said yesterday.

More than one million people are helping shore up dikes around a giant lake in China.

AS green floodwaters rose into homes beside a huge, rain-swollen lake in central China, yesterday, 800,000 workers were racing to shore up dykes that protect six Chinese cities and dozens of villages.