The water level in an artificial lake formed after debris blocked the Bailong River has fallen by more than one meter after several blasts, reducing the risks of further landslides.

Rescue efforts, however, could be further complicated as thunderstorms are forecast for the next three days, according to the Lanzhou meteorological station.

Local authorities also have ordered to boost epidemic prevention and provide safe drinking water within a week.

TRAUMA HAUNTS SURVIVORS

Fourteen psychological specialists have arrived in Zhouqu to provide post-traumatic counseling to survivors who lost their family members in the disaster.

A survey of 186 survivors by the specialists showed about 80 percent of the respondents had showed symptoms of post-traumatic disorders, with some even had tendency of suicide, said Mi Denghai, an expert with a Gansu provincial center of mental health.

Some survivors did not want to eat and could barely fall asleep over the past days and some even got frightened on hearing the sound of rain, according to the survey.

Zhang Dong, a psychological specialist from Beijing, said: "We should work out a mid- and long-term post-traumatic counseling plan as more psychological problems will occur one month later as shown in other disasters."