As the death toll from China's deadliest earthquake in decades climbed to nearly 15,000, officials warned of potential calamities from broken rivers and dams strained to bursting point. State media said around 2,000 soldiers had been sent to repair "extremely dangerous" cracks in the Zipingpu Dam, up the river from the earthquake-hit city of Dujiangyan. On Thursday (May 15) morning, the dam could be seen releasing huge gushes of water as military and medical personnel set up rescue and relief areas near it. China ordered fresh waves of helicopters and aid to earthquake-devastated areas as the sheer magnitude of caring for tens of thousands of homeless survivors threatened to overwhelm relief efforts. The Communist Party leadership told officials to "ensure social stability" as Monday's (May 12) 7.9 magnitude quake in south-western Sichuan province spawned rumours of chemical spills, fears that dams could burst and scenes of collective grief. The official...