China Daily
January 11, 2006

Officials are racing against time to finish a comprehensive geological-disasters warning system in the Three Gorges dam area before the coming flood season, China’s deputy minister of land and resources says.

The Ministry of Land and Resources has reacted to the increasing rainfall across China by mobilizing officials in regions prone to geological disasters, Vice-Minister of Land and Resources Shou Jiahua told a national teleconference yesterday. The teleconference launched a preventive campaign against potential geological disasters in the coming flood season, which is expected to last from June to August in most Chinese regions. “Grassroots officials should ensure that every such susceptible spot has been put under close watch and that all residents exposed to possible attacks have been resettled,” Shou said. Official ministry statistics indicate that, between 1995 and 2001, an annual average of more than 1,100 people in China died in geological disasters – mainly landslides and mud-rock flows. Direct economic losses were calculated at an annual average of nearly 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion). Over 80 per cent of the human and economic losses took place during the flood season because of that period’s excessive rainfall. This year, the ministry will also send out 12 inspection groups to oversee preventive work in significant areas, such as the Three Gorges dam area. Shou said relevant local governments have been racing against time to finish a comprehensive warning system for geological disasters in the dam area. The task should be finished before the rainfall gets really heavy. This year’s battle against geological disasters in the flood season is expected to be harder than last year’s battle. Many areas of China have been warned to expect greater rainfall than that during the same time last year. But Shou expressed optimism about another “commendable achievement”. She noted her ministry had accurately warned of 231 geological disasters last year, saving over 4,200 lives as well as potential economic losses of 1.4 billion yuan (US$169 million). “Our efforts have eventually convinced many people that geological disasters can be prevented and brought them to help. An extra eye is extra help that is not to be neglected,” said Shou.