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China fears for quake-hit dams
19/05/2008 14:40 - (SA)
Beijing - Several dams damaged by China's massive earthquake are under 24-hour watch for signs of collapse and may not be able to withstand strong aftershocks or flooding, a government engineer said on Monday.
"The earthquake this time has caused damage at various levels to reservoirs and dams," said Gu Junyaun, the chief engineer at the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
"Dam safety experts have been put in place to monitor the operation of the dams 24 hours a day."
Heavy rain in the week following the May 12 earthquake, which is estimated to have killed more than 50 000 people, sent water levels rising behind a series of dams near the epicentre that were already weakened.
Dozens of aftershocks have rocked southwestern China following the quake, increasing the risk of collapse.
Gu said that one danger area could be along the Minjiang river, which winds through the hardest-hit area.
He said 10 dams span the river and a further 19 straddle its tributaries, all of which are damaged.
Stable for time being
They would remain safe unless strong aftershocks or flooding occurred, he said.
"Although dams upstream in the Minjiang drainage area had some damage, generally they are stable for the time being unless there are strong aftershocks or floods," he told a press conference.
He added that even if the dams did collapse, the danger of flooding would be mitigated because a major reservoir downstream had the capacity to take in the flood water.
"Even if problems occur at these dams upstream, the Zipingpu reservoir downstream is able to contain the water as it has a storage of 1.1 billion (cubic metres)," he said
Landslides are posing an additional flood danger in quake-damaged areas, with rivers blocked in at least 21 places, according to officials.
More than 2 000 people were evacuated from a village in Hongyuang township after the blocked Qingzhu river broke its banks and began flooding their homes on Saturday, Xinhua news agency said.
- AFP
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