FLOODING IN CHINA, 2010

The floods during 2010 in China are considered to be one of the most damaging of all
floods. China had suffered terrible floods before, in particular the 1998 flooding of the
Yangtze River area. But reports conclude that the flooding of 2010 was far more sever
and widespread. It is estimated that the floods caused more than $50 billion (USD) of
damage, and something like 230 million people were affected, including over 3000 dead
and over 1000 missing. A large swathe of the Chinese mainland was affected by the
floods, with reports saying that in total 28 provinces of the People’s Republic of China
suffered from the devastating floods, especially in central and southern areas. The
country of North Korea was also affected. The result of the floods was chaos. Many died
from landslides, houses, transport systems and farmland were destroyed, millions has to
be evacuated from the worst affected regions, and many had to get by without proper
drinking water supply for long periods. Many of China’s famous and greatest rivers,
including the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, were flooded to danger levels. Flooding began
in early May 2010, and continued unabated until June, although at that time the flooding
appeared to worsen in central China, and later still flooding began in northern provinces
(during August and September). In fact in late July, the town of Kouqian in northern
China’s Jilin province, became completely trapped by flood waters when neighboring
rivers and reservoirs flooded. To make matters worse there, it was estimated that 1000
barrels of explosive chemicals were washed into the river during the flooding.

The Three Gorges Dam in China was place until huge strin during the floods. Claims
were made that the reservoir dam was at capacity and that Yangtze River levels rose by
4 meters overnight during the worst of the torrential rains. Thus the waters were climbing
high up the walls of the dam, which had a maximum water height of 175 meters and
water levels were soon to reach around 160 meters. Therefore the dam had to do a
controlled release of flooding waters through its spill gates. Controversy seems to follow
the 3 Gorges Dam, but the Chinese Goverment claimed the dam had helped contain
flood waters and prevented areas down river from suffering more than they actually did.

Various claims have been made regarding the reasons behind the floods. For example,
it has been suggested that global warming was responsible, or other unusual weather
patterns, such as the jet stream.

Bizarrely, China also suffered one of its worst droughts in 2010, with similar reasons
(global warming, el Nino. jet streams) being blamed. The drought took place earlier in
the year, and also affected parts of South East Asia. There were also terrible dust
storms as a result of the drought.