Threat to Beijing from rains explained

The number of places in Beijing facing geological risks has gone up as a result of deadly rainstorms in the Chinese capital, an official investigation found. A report in Tuesday's Global Times -- headlined "Beijing on rocky road to disaster" -- said the investigation into the post-July 21 disaster revealed 478 places were at risk of geological disaster in the capital, up from 282 places prior to the storm. The disaster has led to public criticism of the city government's preparedness and management during emergencies. The official death toll from the storm-triggered flooding and landslides has been put at 77 and property damage across the city at $118 million. The investigation covered 10 suburban districts and counties, including flood-hit Fangshan and Mentougou districts, said Zhang Jianguo, director of the geological environment department of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources, the Global Times reported. "Collapses and debris flows are the most common risks, with 321 sites vulnerable to a geological collapse and 81 to debris flow," Zhang told the newspaper. "Both human factors and natural factors can be responsible for geological disasters," he said. He said most collapses occurred because of road construction around mountainsides, although it is possible for natural collapses to occur as well. "We have notified local governments in these areas and are asking them to identify dangerous spots and set up warning signs," he said. He said figures suggest more than 90,000 residents were successfully evacuated during the rain storm thanks to the measures taken. Cai Xiangmin at the Beijing Institute of Geological Survey said it is difficult to evaluate destructive potential of disasters in risk areas, because that would depend on how close people live to such sites. The report said urban areas are also at risk from sinkholes in the wake of by flooding. Since the July 21 rains, at least six sinkholeshave been reported across the city but no deaths have been reported. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau forecast heavy rains across capital through Tuesday.