The waters of the Yangtze River surged into the basin behind the world's largest dam project at the Three Gorges Wednesday morning as the cofferdam was demolished with a string of 555 explosions.

The explosives took just 18 seconds to blast their way along the kilometer-long cofferdam at 9:08 am.

As the sound of the explosions echoed, the cofferdam that was formed in 1997 finished its historical task. From now on, the Yangtze River will directly flow into the base pit of the Three Gorges.

The cofferdam was just 300 meters from the Three Gorges dam. Under the protection of the cofferdam, which lies on the main riverbed, the second-phase of the Three Gorges Project has been under construction since November, 1997.

According to the construction plan, three goals will be realized by 2003, including a lower water conservation gate, permanent lock gates and the first electricity generator, all of which required the demolition of the cofferdam.

Three Gorges Dam Safe, Reliable: Experts

Chinese experts have approved the construction quality of the 1,600-meter Three Gorges dam to date, officials with the China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Company, the proprietor of the project, said here Wednesday.

After a comprehensive examination of the world's largest dam on the Yangtze River, the experts employed by the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee said the dam was safe and reliable enough to hold water.

The review was done before the cofferdam upstream of the main dam was demolished Wednesday, allowing the river to wash directly up to the dam.

Chinese builders have poured more than 12 million cubic meters of cement over the past five years into the dam, currently standing 167 meters high on average.

The building of another section of the dam, about 600 meters long, is expected to begin next year.

The Three Gorges Hydropower Plant will have an installed capacity of 18.2 million kilowatts upon completion, making it the biggest hydropower plant in the world.

The first generating units of the project will be put into service in 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2002)