Mass Wasting in China
Landslides are a major hazard in China due to heavy rainfall, earthquakes and urbanization. China has vast mountainous regions and extreme storms caused by monsoon weather. Mass wasting is a frequent problem that causes significant damage and loss of life. Many regions in Southwestern China have loose soil and steep slopes. For example, the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan triggered thousands of landslides that blocked rivers and in 2017 mass wasting occurred in Sichuan burying 120 people alive. Glacial melting and climate change have impacted the regions of Tibet and Xinjiang, leaving them vulnerable to mass wasting. To prevent and mitigate this issue, China has implemented serval measures to reduce risk. Reforestation projects expand vegetation over slopes, geological monitoring systems use sensors and satellites to detect early warning signs, and infrastructures have been reinforced with retaining walls and drain. People have also been moved out of...