Safety aside, the dam upstream from Dujiangyan is the staging post for rescuers heading toward the epicenter.

NPR: Dam Scrutiny, Quake Aid Efforts Ramp Up in China

The Chinese government sent about 2, 000 soldiers to make the repairs to Zipingku Dam on Wednesday, fearing that it might collapse and flood the hard-hit city of Dujiangyan, according to a statement on the Sichuan government Web site.

NPR: Death Toll Climbs in China