Last month’s devastating earthquake continues to threaten the lives and homes of the people of Sichuan province. The deadly May 12 earthquake dramatically changed the landscape of the province. Landslides tumbled into riverbeds, blocking the flow of water and endangering the lives of those living downstream from these natural dams. The PLA and government engineers are frantically trying to drain Tangjiashan Lake in Sichuan, whose waters threaten over 1 million downstream residents, even as reports this morning suggest those efforts may be losing ground. Evacuations have begun but the struggle is now a race against both time and the awesome power of water flowing downhill.
History gives some indication of the catastrophic results should these efforts fail. In 1786, another earthquake rocked the province of Sichuan, causing a landslide that blocked the Dadu River. On this date (June 10) that dam gave way sending 50 million cubic tons of water surging through the river channel inundating farms, towns, and valleys. Over 100,000 people were killed, and the Dadu Flood of 1786 remains the deadliest ‘quake lake’ disaster in recorded history.
As always, our thoughts and prayers are with those in Sichuan who are grieving or homeless, as well of course