Abstract
On August 7, 2010, a giant mudflow occurred in Zhouqu County, in China’s Gansu Province. It killed at least 1,467 people and destroyed many buildings. The extensive damage resulted partially from the impact of the swift mudflow, and partially from subsequent flooding caused by damming of the Bailong River, creating a lake. The mudflow had both internal and external causes. We discuss these in detail from the perspective of their relationship to human activities, with the goal of helping to provide advance warning of such disasters in the future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fang HY, Cai QG, Li QY, Sun LY, He JJ (2010) Causes and countermeasures of giant flash flood and debris flow disaster in Zhouqu County in Gansu Province on August 7. Sci Soil Water Conserv 6:14–18 (in Chinese)
Feng YF (2011) The analysis of the contributing factors of the “8.8” massive debris flow in Zhouqu, Gansu province. City Geol 3:28–30 (in Chinese)
Ge WB, Tan BY, Tang BX, Jiang ZX, Liu HC, Li QY, Liu Y, Xu ZW, Xue PX, Jiang J, Hu T, Yang M et al (2006) The industry standard of geology and mineral resources of the People’s Republic of China: specification of geological investigation for debris flow stabilization. Standards Press of China, Beijing (DZ/T 0220-2006) (in Chinese)
Guo TF, Duan QF, Hua SZ, Shi DM, Xu CZ, Tong WL, Ning DH, Lu SL, Qin BS, Yu JR, Guo SY, Zhang CY, Chen FY, Shi XZ, Li J, Wang Y, Feng W, Chang DD, Wang HY, Su ZR, Zhang DQ, Cong PJ, Li Q (2008) The industry standard of water conservation of the People’s Republic of China: standards for classification and gradation of soil erosion. China Water Power Press, Beijing (SL 190-2007) (in Chinese)
Han LH (2006) The strategic position of soil and water conservation and ecological security in the economic and social development of Zhouqu County. Inf Agric Sci Technol 8:18–19 (in Chinese)
Hong JC, Ou GQ, Liu JF (2011) Distribution characteristics of debris flow along main stream and the risk assessment. Yellow River 6:105–107 (in Chinese)
Hu KH, Ge YG, Cui P, Guo XJ, Yang W (2010) Preliminary analysis of extra-large scale debris flow disaster in Zhouqu County of Gansu Province. J Mt Sci 28:628–634 (in Chinese)
Hu XD, Li ZH, Wei J, Bi YH (2011) Formation and kinematic characteristics of the debris flow disaster at the Sanyanyu gulley, Zhouqu County of Gansu Province. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 4:82–87 (in Chinese)
Hürlimann M, Copons R, Altimir J (2006) Detailed debris flow hazard assessment in Andorra. A multidisciplinary approach. Geomorphology 78:359–372
Jakob M, Hungr O (2005) Debris-flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer, Berlin
Jin LY, Zhang MS, Wang JC, Li WY, Li GY, Sun PP (2011) The Characteristics and forming reasons of “8.8” debris flow at Luo jiayu Gulley, Zhouqu. Northwest Geol 3:71–79 (in Chinese)
Liu RZ, Ni JR (2004) Rapid assessment of rainstorm debris flow hazard in China. J Basic Sci Eng 12:346–360 (in Chinese)
Liu CZ, Miao TB, Chen HQ, Dong KJ, Li ZH, Li HJ (2011a) Basic feature and origin of the “8.8” mountain torrent-debris flow disaster happened in Zhouqu County, Gansu, China, Aug. 8, 2010. Geol Bull China 1:141–150 (in Chinese)
Liu XL, Yu CJ, Shang ZH (2011b) Risk mapping and spatial pattern of debris flow and landslide hazards in China. J Basic Sci Eng 19:721–731
Ma DT, Qi L (1997) Study on comprehensive controlling of debris flow hazard in Sanyanyu Gully. Bull Soil Water Conserv 4:26–31 (in Chinese)
Prochaska AB, Santi PM, Higgins JD, Cannon SH (2008) A study of methods to estimate debris flow velocity. Landslides 5:431–444
Rickenmann D (1999) Empirical relationships for debris flows. Nat Hazards 19:47–77
Su C, Liu YM, Fang C (2011) Analysis on the causes of extreme debris flow disaster and control measures in Zhouqu County. J Anhui Agric Sci 23:14194–14196 (in Chinese)
Takahashi T (1981) Estimation of potential debris flows and their hazardous zones. J Nat Disaster Sci 3:57–89
Tang C, Zhu J, Li WL (2009) Rainfall triggered debris flows after Wenchuan earthquake. Bull Eng Geol Environ 68:187–194
Tong LQ, Zhang XK, Cheng Y, Li L, Li M, Qi JW (2011) Remote sensing interpretation and evaluation of super-large geological disasters caused by “8.7” debris flow of Zhouqu. Remote Sens Inf 5:109–113 (in Chinese)
Wei FQ, Cui P, Hu KH, Liu YJ (2001) Debris flow and land desertification in mountain area of China. J Soil Water Conserv 15:108–111
Xu Q, Pan HX (2012) Correlation analysis of mudslides disasters and changes in forest cover in Zhouqu. For Econ 11:31–34 (in Chinese)
Yu B, Yang YH, Su YC, Huang WJ, Wang GF (2010) Research on the giant debris flow hazards in Zhouqu County, Gansu Province on August 7. J Eng Geol 8:437–444 (in Chinese)
Zhao YC, Cui CG (2010) A study of rainstorm process triggering Zhouqu extremely mudslide on 8 August 2010. Torrential Rain Disasters 3:289–295 (in Chinese)
Acknowledgments
The project was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. TD2011-3). The authors also thank the Gansu Provincial Department of Housing and Urban and Rural Development and the Zhouqu Forestry Bureau for supporting the investigation. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xiao, H., Luo, Z., Niu, Q. et al. The 2010 Zhouqu mudflow disaster: possible causes, human contributions, and lessons learned. Nat Hazards 67, 611–625 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0592-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0592-3