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The Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12, 2008), Sichuan Province, China, and resulting geohazards

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Cui
  • Xiao-Qing Chen
  • Ying-Yan Zhu
  • Feng-Huan Su
  • Fang-Qiang Wei
  • Yong-Shun Han
  • Hong-Jiang Liu
  • Jian-Qi Zhuang

Abstract

On Monday, May 12, 2008, a devastating mega-earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck the Wenchuan area, northwestern Sichuan Province, China. The focal mechanism of the earthquake was successive massive rock fracturing 15 km in depth at Yingxiu. Seismic analysis confirms that the major shock occurred on the Beichuan–Yingxiu Fault and that aftershocks rapidly extended in a straight northeast–southeast direction along the Longmenshan Fault zone. Fatalities approaching a total of 15,000 occurred, with a significant number resulting from four types of seismically triggered geohazards—rock avalanches and landslides, landslide-dammed lakes (“earthquake lakes”), and debris flows. China Geological Survey has identified 4,970 potentially risky sites, 1,701 landslides, 1,844 rock avalanches, 515 debris flows, and 1,093 unstable slopes. Rock avalanches and landslides caused many fatalities directly and disrupted the transportation system, extensively disrupting rescue efforts and thereby causing additional fatalities. Landslide-dammed lakes not only flooded human habitats in upstream areas but also posed threats to potentially inundated downstream areas with large populations. Debris flows become the most remarkable geohazards featured by increasing number, high frequency, and low triggering rainfall. Earthquake-triggered geohazards sequentially induced and transformed to additional hazards. For example, debris flows occurred on rock avalanches and landslides, followed by landslide-dammed lakes, and then by additional debris flows and breakouts of the landslide-dammed lakes and downstream flooding. Earthquake-induced geohazards occurred mainly along the fault zone and decreased sharply with distance from the fault. It can be anticipated that post-earthquake geohazards, particularly for debris flows, will continue for 5–10 years and even for as long as 20 years. An integrated strategy of continuing emergency response and economic reconstruction is required. The lesson from Wenchuan Earthquake is that the resulted geohazards may appear in large number in active fault regions. A plan for geohazard prevention in the earthquake-active mountainous areas is needed in advance. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Cui & Xiao-Qing Chen & Ying-Yan Zhu & Feng-Huan Su & Fang-Qiang Wei & Yong-Shun Han & Hong-Jiang Liu & Jian-Qi Zhuang, 2011. "The Wenchuan Earthquake (May 12, 2008), Sichuan Province, China, and resulting geohazards," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 56(1), pages 19-36, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:56:y:2011:i:1:p:19-36
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-009-9392-1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Taiyi & Tang, Yuchun & Li, Qiming & Wang, Jingquan, 2023. "Resilience-oriented network reconfiguration strategies for community emergency medical services," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    2. Bin Yu & Yu Ma & Yufu Wu, 2013. "Case study of a giant debris flow in the Wenjia Gully, Sichuan Province, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 65(1), pages 835-849, January.
    3. Rui Huang & Arunima Malik & Manfred Lenzen & Yutong Jin & Yafei Wang & Futu Faturay & Zhiyi Zhu, 2022. "Supply-chain impacts of Sichuan earthquake: a case study using disaster input–output analysis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(3), pages 2227-2248, February.
    4. Xiaojun Guo & Xingchang Chen & Guohu Song & Jianqi Zhuang & Jianglin Fan, 2021. "Debris flows in the Lushan earthquake area: formation characteristics, rainfall conditions, and evolutionary tendency," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 106(3), pages 2663-2687, April.
    5. Shuwen Liu & Lewis T.O. Cheung & Alex Y. Lo & Wei Fang, 2018. "Livelihood Benefits from Post-Earthquake Nature-Based Tourism Development: A Survey of Local Residents in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Jianxiu Wang & Xueying Gu & Tianrong Huang, 2013. "Using Bayesian networks in analyzing powerful earthquake disaster chains," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 68(2), pages 509-527, September.

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