Shenzhen should brace for more natural disasters including thunderstorms, typhoons and increased days with severe convection weather, as well as geological hazards such as landslides especially during the rainy season (April to September), according to a 2020 proposal on the prevention of natural disasters compiled and recently released by the city’s planning and natural resources bureau.
The proposal has singled out 32 places in the city that are prone to landslides and mudslides, 20 areas prone to geographical hazards of karst collapses (sinkholes) and three areas that are likely to see land collapses, according to yesterday’s Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.
The proposal urged the city government to further improve the city’s ability to investigate and evaluate, to monitor and send out early warnings against, as well as to respond to natural disasters and geological hazards. It said enhancing the city’s management level of geological disaster prevention work will help avoid or lower casualties and economic losses related to natural disasters.
The proposal said it is necessary to continue publicity on proper reactions for residents when facing a geological disaster, in addition to strengthening information and construction of geological hazard prevention in the city.
Government funds should also be allocated to set up a professional emergency response team, capable of emergency rescue work immediately after a geological disaster, according to the proposal.
Shenzhen should continue to improve the city’s geological environment, such as prevention of soil erosion, which will lead to mudslides in the rainy season.
According to the proposal, the three places that are likely to see land collapses are: first, the Qianhai Bay area; second, the area between the west part of OCT Harbor and Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, and further west to the Shenzhen Bay Bridge in Shekou; and lastly the area between the Minzhu Village in Shajing Subdistrict and the north of the Shenzhen airport in Bao’an District.
The majority of the 32 places prone to landslides and mudslides, and the 20 areas with likely sinkholes are in suburban areas in Bao’an, Guangming, Longhua, Longgang and Dapeng.