Torrential rain in the Chongqing area in recent weeks has caused more than 500 rockfalls and other geological incidents, the Chongqing Evening News (Chongqing wanbao) reports.

In Banan district, two people were killed and several others were seriously injured in 15 rockfalls that destroyed 1,150 houses, the newspaper said in its June 16 report.

In Jiulongpo district, 472 rockfalls had put the safety of 841 people at risk, the newspaper said, but gave no details of any injuries. Severe flooding in Bishan county caused 81 rockfalls and US$865,000 worth of damages, it reported.

Geological-disasters expert Li Yusheng attributed the spate of recent incidents both to natural and human factors. The Chongqing region is geologically complex and prone to such disasters, which are often triggered by the precipitation that falls in the May-July monsoon season. Human activities in the heavily populated area, such as mining, road and railway construction, and the reclamation of land on steep slopes, have exacerbated the situation, Mr. Li said.

Chongqing is located at the upstream end of the 600-kilometre-long reservoir that will begin forming behind the Three Gorges dam in June next year. Experts fear that impounding the huge body of water could trigger landslides and earthquakes in the geologically fragile mountain region.