Only days after heavy rain and mudslides devastated areas in Zhouqu County of Gansu Province on Aug. 8, parts of Sichuan province, located in southwestern China, have also been hit by huge mudslides and flooding.
Starting Aug. 12, parts of Sichuan province experienced continuous torrential rains that triggered large scale mudslides in 10 cities and 24 counties. About 5.76 million people were affected and 400,000 local residents had to be evacuated, according to a report by China News Services on Aug. 17. Official death toll is said to be 13, and 59 missing.
Sichuan’s earthquake-stricken areas in Qingping Township (Mianzhu City), Yingxiu Township (Wenchuan County), and Longchi Township (Dujiangyan City) were the worst areas affected by mudslides.
Mianzhu City
In the early morning of Aug. 13, a mudslide triggered by flash floods devastated Qingping Township, a suburb of Mianzhu City in northwestern Sichuan Province, an area that had been heavily damaged by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The five million cubic meter mudslide altered the route of the Mianyuan River, forming a barrier lake, and turning Qingping Township into an isolated island without supply of water and electricity. Road traffic and telecommunication were also at a complete halt.
Starting Aug. 12, parts of Sichuan province experienced continuous torrential rains that triggered large scale mudslides in 10 cities and 24 counties. About 5.76 million people were affected and 400,000 local residents had to be evacuated, according to a report by China News Services on Aug. 17. Official death toll is said to be 13, and 59 missing.
Sichuan’s earthquake-stricken areas in Qingping Township (Mianzhu City), Yingxiu Township (Wenchuan County), and Longchi Township (Dujiangyan City) were the worst areas affected by mudslides.
Mianzhu City
In the early morning of Aug. 13, a mudslide triggered by flash floods devastated Qingping Township, a suburb of Mianzhu City in northwestern Sichuan Province, an area that had been heavily damaged by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The five million cubic meter mudslide altered the route of the Mianyuan River, forming a barrier lake, and turning Qingping Township into an isolated island without supply of water and electricity. Road traffic and telecommunication were also at a complete halt.
