Precautions and plans for natural disasters must be put in place

TEN PEOPLE have been confirmed dead after a landslide buried more than 100 people from more than 62 homes in Maoxian county, Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Saturday morning. President Xi Jinping has urged that no effort be spared in the search and rescue operations, and has instructed the State Council, China's Cabinet, to send a work team to the site. As China has entered its flood season, governments across the country should strengthen disaster prevention to ensure people's safety and protect property, he said. Beijing News commented on Sunday:

A massive landslide from a high part of a mountain in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture smashed into Xinmo village, making all preventative efforts in vain. Triggered by the heavy rainfall, the catastrophic consequences are a reminder of how unpredictable natural disasters can be and the fact that it is never too much when it comes to making necessary preparations.

Given its location such natural disasters are probably not rare in Maoxian county, so the risks must be taken into account and professional risk assessments made before any reconstruction begins. The basic rule is that slopes containing too many moveable rocks are not suitable for buildings. As for the weather hazards, there are identifiable patterns which local authorities can use in their efforts to prevent such disasters from happening. Last year the Ministry of Land and Resources disclosed some 280,000 sites prone to such hazards nationwide, meaning that extra inspections are needed in these areas, not least when large parts of the country are in flood season.

Local government officials, especially those in the affected areas, have to put more efforts into forecasting and preventing landslide disasters. They also need to make sure the dangerous spots are inspected regularly and any changes reported. Residents must be evacuated in a timely and orderly manner, and the family members of the missing and those suffering losses in the disaster must be given appropriate care. The local authorities must also be on the alert and make maximum efforts to prevent secondary disasters.