(08/17/00)

Editor's Note: Are natural phenomena really natural? These disasters should be viewed from truly scientific point of view.

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Tianjin Daily: Major geologic disasters occurred recently in China (August 9, 2000)

(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 8) Since the beginning of the flood season this year, several geologic disasters such as land subsidence, landslides, and mud-rock flows occurred in the regions of southwestern China, southern China, and northwestern China, causing severe loss of human life and property damage. Five major geologic disasters have been reported since the beginning of the flood season.

In early April, the karst-rock ground collapsed and sank in Hongshan District, Wuhan, causing a economic loss of 6.11 million Yuan RMB.

On the evening of April 9, very serious massif falling and landslide accompanied by a large-scale mud-rock flow occurred in Tibet, which resulted in more than 4000 people stranded and over 10,000 people affected by the flood.

On June 6, a series of land falling, landslide and mud-rock flows occurred in Gulin county, Sichuan province, which affected more than 160,000 people, caused 41 deaths, 5 missing persons, and 58 serious injuries. The direct economic loss was 182 million Yuan RMB.

From June 17 to 19, a series of land falling, landslide and mud-rock flows occurred in Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou in Fujian province, which caused 47 deaths: more than 1000 houses collapsed. The direct economic loss was near 100 million Yuan RMB.

On July 13, large-scale landslide and mud-rock flows burst forth in Ziyang county, Shanxi, causing 202 deaths, 10 missing persons, and more than 25,000 houses toppled.

From July 13 to 15, a series of landslides occurred in Pingli, Hu, and Zhenzhenba counties of Shanxi province, causing 127 deaths and 52 injuries.