Open AccessUsing Satellite Data to Investigate the 12 May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, China
Author(s) -
Pan Gang,
Tang DanLing
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2009eo160002
Subject(s) - china , landslide , rockfall , christian ministry , threatened species , geography , geology , seismology , physical geography , archaeology , political science , law , ecology , habitat , biology
The M 8.0 earthquake that struck Sichuan Province in southwestern China on 12 May 2008 was the most devastating earthquake in that country in the past 5 decades. At least 69,000 deaths have been confirmed and more than 374,000 people were injured, according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs. Overall, more than 45.5 million people in 10 provinces and regions in China were affected by the earthquake. Landslides and rockfalls damaged or destroyed several mountain roads and railways and buried buildings in the Beichuan‐Wenchuan area of Sichuan Province, cutting off access to the region for several days (Figures 1a and 1b). Landslides also dammed several rivers, and the resultant creation of 36 barrier lakes (dangerous earthquake lakes) threatened about 700,000 people downstream.