All the barrier lakes formed after the massive May 12 earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province are "under control", but the situation is still grim, said Vice Minister of Water Resources E Jingping on Sunday.

Heavy rains forecasts for the quake-hit areas over the next three days are a major threat that may cause bursts and floods of the lakes, E told a news conference.

The 8.0-magnitude earthquake, aftershocks and landslides have left 35 such lakes, with 34 in Sichuan, the vice minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2008)