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Seven years ago, Chinese officials boasted the dam could withstand floods so severe they come only once every 10,000 years. But as the current flooding in central China — especially along the country's largest river, the Yangtze — shows no sign of waning, officials now warn the dam's capacity is limited.

Since the completion of the Three Gorges Dam in 2006, confidence in its flood capacity has diminished.

In 2007, officials said the dam could withstand the worst flood in 1,000 years.

Then on Tuesday, the Three Gorges Corporation's chairman, Cao Guangjing, told China Daily he can "absolutely guarantee" the dam can withstand the worst flood in 100 years.

[doc1019]

Watched a documentary on the Discovery channel years ago that stated that if the Three Gorges Dam ever gave way, over 16 million would die in the ensuing flood. Hope the Chinese Government has taken this into consideration when they relocated all the downstream folks.

[NormsRevenge]

It’s not even open 10 years .. wow,, they sure build it tough in China.

[Cuttnhorse]

So they have gone from a design that will withstand a 10,000-year event, to 1,000-year, ah, solly, 100-year event. Dam! Never could get those zeros right.