China Enhances Measures Against Landslides and Floods

On August 4, 2023, China announced plans to enhance its capabilities to prevent and mitigate the effects of landslides and floods, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

The Ministry of Natural Resources will prioritize the prevention of shallow landslides and debris flows caused by heavy rainfall, particularly in regions such as the Yaxia Hydropower Project site, the Yanshan-Taihang Mountains, the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and the Wumeng Mountains.

Additionally, the country will investigate techniques for identifying and monitoring geological hazard risks through aerospace remote sensing. Recent incidents, including landslides in Gansu province that resulted in 25 fatalities and another in Chongqing that claimed 51 lives, highlight the urgency of these measures. Last year, China identified over 270,000 geological hazard sites that threaten the safety of approximately 11 million individuals.