A man watches the partially submerged buildings of Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]

Some buildings of the Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province are seen on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP] 

 Some buildings of the Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province are seen on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]

 Some buildings of the Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province are seen on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]

 Some buildings of the Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province are seen on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]

 Some buildings of the Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province are seen on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]

 A man sits watching the partially submerged buildings of Xuanping township in Beichuan county, southwest China's Sichuan Province on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]

 Displaced resident Yang Rong picks through her former house for her belongings in Xuanping township, Beichuan county, Sichuan Province on July 14, 2013. [CFP]

 The flag still hangs on its pole in front of the building of Xuanping primary school in Xuanping township, Beichuan county, Sichuan Province on July 14, 2013. The township had been submerged following the 8.0-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008 , which created a barrier lake. After the recent torrential rains that swept the region, an exit channel was created for the lake, which drained and revealed some of the homes. [CFP]