China floods put pressure on Three Gorges Dam

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/23/10 | Chi-Chi Zhang - ap

[NormsRevenge]

BEIJING – Record-high water levels at China's massive Three Gorges Dam have called into question Beijing's claims that the world's largest hydroelectric project could withstand a 10,000-year flood.

The water level reached 518 feet (158 meters) Saturday morning, just 55 feet (17 meters) from the reservoir's maximum capacity of 573 feet (175 meters), flood control headquarters in the central province of Hubei told The Associated Press.

Water could go higher with China's national weather center issuing a warning Saturday of more torrential rains for the region through 8 a.m. Sunday.

[NormsRevenge]

Lightning strikes in Poyang county in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, July 20, 2010. Much of China has been suffering flooding and landslides after weeks of torrential downpours. At least 146 people have died since the start of this month, as a result of the rains, and another 40 are missing. REUTERS/Aly Song

[al baby]

So if the dam burst would it take BP of the front pages ?

[Always A Marine]

It’s a Wal-Mart dam. Hmmm...

[dfwgator]

When the levee breaks, mama you got to move...

[HiTech RedNeck]

How do you say “OH SH**” in Chinese?

[rawhide]

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.

[NormsRevenge]

knock on wood. It could,, lot of heads would roll

[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.

[dfwgator]

As Bill Cosby says, “First you say it, then you do it.”

[PugetSoundSoldier]

This spring and summer have been really unusual in China. Summer arrived REALLY late, and it’s been really wet...

Looks like they’ll have to open the flood-gates of the dam a bit earlier than expected. But when you realize the size of the reservoir (400 square MILES), well, 55 feet to go is a LOT of water!

[HiTech RedNeck]

哦，糞!

[Noumenon]

A failure of the Three Gorges Dam would bring China to its knees. They will likely start a war to distract, deflect and drive what remains of their economy.

Human life has no value to China’s rulers. Remember that it is a culture that has periodically burned its libraries and slaughtered its scholars.

[ibheath]

How do you say “OH SH**” in Chinese?

哎呀

[al baby]

哦，糞! OMG thats what I had for dinner damn Chinese I said dam

[Domandred]

Lets not have a repeat. Chu Jiaozi “the River Dragon has come”

http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/aug1975.htm

[Frantzie]

I saw so pictures on the dam with th egates open and the water is flying out 300 feet. Scary as hell. If this thing goes, and it might, God help them.

[gunsequalfreedom]

There was a lot of foreign engineers on this project. They may have been forced to cut corners they did not want to but I know a couple that worked on the project and they never mentioned problems like that.

[redgolum]

Dang.