Three Gorges Probe
November 23, 2007

Construction has begun on the first earthquake monitoring centre in the Three Gorges area, www.china.org.cn reported on Nov 21. Located in Shizhu County, the centre will provide technical support regarding operation safety, earthquake damage relief, and geological disaster evaluation.

Shizhu County’s Earthquake Bureau said the centre will cost US$296,000 to build and will be completed in July 2008. Approved by the National Development and Reform Commission and the China Earthquake Administration, the centre will issue earthquake warnings to surrounding districts and counties, and report to the Chongqing Municipal Earthquake Bureau.

About 85 percent of the Three Gorges area, which is seismically active, is in the jurisdiction of Chongqing municipality.