Chinese rescuers on Monday declared a victory in draining stagnant water in a mudslide-blocked river course, which had submerged the mudslide-flattened county of Zhouqu in northwest China's Gansu Province for 23 days.

The devastating avalanche of rocks and mud on Aug. 7 has left more than 1,700 people dead or missing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2010)