Early Warning and Prevention of Geo-Hazards in China

Abstract

China is experiencing fast social and economic development risked by serious geological hazards. This paper reviewed the ongoing actions of mitigating geological hazards in China from some aspects. At first, the paper presented 290 counties’ statistic results of phase I of national geological hazards survey program on the basis of each county. The results indicated that slope hazards including landslide, rock avalanche and unstable slope and debris flow were major geo-hazard types, accounting for 92% of total geo-hazards; that the factor of triggering landslide, rock avalanche and debris flow was mainly rainstorm; that the dead was 8486 and the direct economic loss was 3.27 billion Yuan resulting from slope hazards; and that the population and property values were respectively 3.46 million and 15.09 billion Yuan threatened by potential slope hazards. Then, the paper introduced the method of geo-hazard risk assessment and zoning which was applied in a research project in China. Subsequently, the principle and successful effects of meteorological early warning of landslide in China were expounded. The Three Gorges Reservoir area was threatened most seriously by wide various geo-hazards such as landslides, rock avalanches and debris flows. Therefore, prevention and control of geo-hazards were especially introduced in the paper. At last, the paper proposed some recommendations for the national geo-hazard mitigation strategy in China.