(November 9, 2009) A recent scientific study adds to suggestions that a dam built near an underground geological fault line helped trigger the massive earthquake in Sichuan in May 2008 that killed more than 69,000 people and left almost 18,000 missing.
More evidence the Zipingpu dam may be to blame for the Wenchuan earthquake
(November 6, 2009) A recent article by scientists in the U.S. provides further evidence that the Zipingpu dam’s reservoir may have triggered the devastating May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. The Wenchuan earthquake killed nearly 90,000 people and unleashed a chorus of speculation that the Zipingpu reservoir may have contributed to the severity of the earthquake, or helped to trigger it.
Did the Zipingpu Reservoir trigger the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake?
(October 28, 2009) A new study published in the journal of Geophysical Research Letters provides more evidence that the deadly Wenchuan earthquake may have been triggered by the Zipingpu dam’s reservoir.
Reservoir-Triggered Seismicity in Armenian Large Dams
(Fall 2009) Reservoir-triggered seismicity (RTS) is a phenomenon, which has been observed in several large dam projects all over the world, especially for the reservoirs which are constructed in seismically active regions. Practically all the territory of the Republic of Armenia is characterized as the high seismic active area. A review of reservoir triggered seismicity in Armenia shows that it mainly occurs in large dams which are located near active faults. In this paper it has been shown that the number of microearthquakes increase after Tolors reservoir operation, cause changes of seismic regime in the observed regions.
Satellite data look behind the scenes of deadly earthquake
(October 15, 2009) Using satellite radar data and GPS measurements, Chinese researchers have explained the exceptional geological events leading to the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake that killed nearly 90 000 people in China’s Sichuan Province.
More than 37,000 Chinese dams could collapse from excess rain
(August 5, 2009) Earthquake damaged many dams in Sichuan (where more than 90 per cent of China’s dams are located). Monsoon rains are becoming increasingly powerful. Emergency plans are lacking. This summer could bring dangers.
Fatal Mudslides in Southern and Central China
(August 3, 2009) Over the past four days, torrentials rains have caused havock in central and southern China killing a dozen people.
Heavy Rains Create Mudslides and Mine Flooding in China
(July 25, 2009) A major rainstorm swept through central Hunan Province yesterday killing at least 14 people and forcing another 30,000 from their homes.
Fresh aftershock hits China quake region: USGS
(July 13, 2009) A fresh aftershock jolted China’s southwest Monday, three days after an earthquake in the same area killed one person, injured hundreds and directly affected two million people, state media said.
Faults and earthquakes in China monitored from space
(July 3, 2009) China is in a very seismically active area and has had many catastrophic earthquakes during its history. A joint European-Chinese team is using satellite radar data to monitor ground deformation across major continental faults in China to understand better the seismic cycle and how faults behave.
Aftershock strikes Sichuan, destroying houses, bridges
(June 30, 2009) Thousands of houses and dozens of small bridges were destroyed during a 5.6-magnitude aftershock that struck Mianzhu, Sichuan province, at 2:03 am Tuesday morning.
Quake jolts China’s Sichuan, no reports of damage
(June 29, 2009) A small earthquake occured in the early hours of Tuesday in the same part of China that was devastated by a quake last year, a spokesman for the State Seismological Bureau in Beijing said.
Dams on China’s Yellow River near collapse
(June 18, 2009) Several dams on China’s mighty Yellow River are close to collapse just a few years after they were built amid concerns that over 40 percent of the nation’s reservoirs are unsafe, state media has said.
Geologists reflect on last year’s earthquake in Sichuan
(June 5, 2009) When the Sichuan province was rocked by a massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake last year, many scientists and government leaders were caught off guard. Previous studies by geologists stated that while the area—on the surface—appeared to be seismically active, their research showed otherwise.
Quake readiness, turning the clock back to 2005
(May 27, 2009) Probe International provides a translation of Qian Gang’s examination of the Chinese government’s existing policies concerning quake readiness and disaster prevention. His story appeared just prior to the one-year anniversary of last year’s deadly Wenchuan earthquake.
Patricia Adams
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Probe International
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