Beijing on rocky road to disaster

Results of an official investigation released on Monday have revealed 478 places at risk of geological disaster in Beijing, of which 196 were added after the heavy rainstorm on July 21.

The five-day investigation was completed on Saturday and covered 10 suburban districts and counties, including flood-hit Fangshan and Mentougou districts, said Zhang Jianguo, director of the geological environment department of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources.

"Collapses and debris flows are the most common risks, with 321 sites vulnerable to a geological collapse and 81 to debris flow," he told the Global Times Monday.

"Both human factors and natural factors can be responsible for geological disasters," added Zhang.

He said that most collapses occurred because of road construction around mountainsides, although it is possible for natural collapses to occur as well.

Zhang said that rainfall can cause rocks and soil to become saturated with water, increasing the potential for rock-falls, landslides or debris flows.

"We have notified local governments in these areas and are asking them to identify dangerous spots and set up warning signs. We are distributing more than 10,000 disaster prevention cards listing dangers and evacuation routes," he said.

Zhang added that in the past, similar measures have been taken in vulnerable areas.

"Statistics that we have are still incomplete, but suggest that more than 90,000 residents were successfully evacuated during the rain storm. I think the measures we took, to some extent, worked," he added.

Flooding and landslides caused by the rainstorm on July 21 left 77 people dead and caused 11.6 billion yuan ($118 million) in property damage across the city.

Cai Xiangmin, head of the Beijing Institute of Geological Survey, told the Global Times that it is hard to evaluate the destructive potential of disasters in risk areas.

"Heavy rain, earthquakes or major construction projects can trigger a disaster in risk areas, but it depends on how close people live to the site," said Cai.

To avoid casualties and property damage, he suggested that village officials launch 24-hour inspections during rainy seasons and keep local residents informed of emergency procedures.

"People would also be wise to move away from disaster-prone areas," he said.

Urban areas of the city are also thought to be at risk from sinkholes in the wake of flooding.

Since the heavy rain on July 21, at least six sinkholes have appeared across the city, including one on Majiapu Lu, Fengtai district and one on Di'anmenwai Dajie, Xicheng district. No fatalities have been announced yet, the Legal Mirror reported on Monday.

A member of staff with Beijing Municipal Bridge Maintenance Management Group Co. Ltd told the newspaper that sinkholes normally appear in areas of ongoing construction work, such as subway construction or in locations with aging pipe work.

He said that on rainy days, regular inspections will be carried out on roads.

Zhang Junfeng, founder of Happy Water Journeys, a non-governmental water resource watchdog, told the Global Times previously that sinkholes can be caused by the excessive extraction of groundwater in the city.

"Extreme groundwater extraction can cause land subsidence and crush underground pipes, causing them to burst," he said.

Beijing Meteorological Bureau forecast heavy rain acorss the capital from Monday night until Tuesday.