Over 5,000 prisoners evacuated from a major flood diversion area, have been securely and safely moved.

The transfer went without a hitch and no escapes, an official from east China's Anhui Province said.

"All of the 5,079 prisoners are safe and their lives in the new place have been properly arranged," said a division chief surnamed Zhou with the provincial Bureau of Justice, which manages jail affairs.

The affected prisoners were inmates in Baihu Prison, located within the flood diversion area of Baihu Lake.

Water released from branches of both the Yangtze and Huaihe rivers pour into the lake to ease levels.

But continuous torrential rain raised water levels in Baihu Lake from 10.74 meters to 11.82 meters between Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon, taking it over the 11.73 meters alert level.

Emergency measures became necessary to divert some of the waters in order to safeguard the lives and property of residents in neighboring counties and cities.

On the orders of the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, holes were blown in dykes encircling Baihu Prison, said Zhou. Before these emergency measures could be taken, the convicts had to be moved.

This began Wednesday evening and was completed by Thursday morning.

(China Daily July 12, 2003)