[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...

[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.

[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!

[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.

[redgolum]

Dang.

[NormsRevenge]

Water is discharged from the Three Gorges Dam to lower the level in its reservoir in Yichang, Hubei province July 20, 2010. REUTERS/Stringer

[YHAOS]

"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."

What if this is a 20,000 year flood?

[packrat35]

Most deaths by flooding in history. Top 4 are all in China

1.
Huang He (Yellow) River, China
1931
Death Toll: 1,000,000 to 3,700,000

The Huang He River is prone to flooding because of the broad expanse of plain that lies around it. One of the major reasons for the flooding is the high silt content that gives the river its yellow tint (and thus its name). The silt—which constitutes as much as 60% of its volume—builds up until the river actually is higher than the surrounding land. The tendency to flood is exacerbated by ice dams which block the river in Mongolia; the dams back up the water, and then release devastating walls of water when they break.

The history of flooding has prompted the Communist Chinese government to embark on a program of building dams for flood control. The dams, however, have not proven entirely effective and have been the target of criticism from environmentalists.

2.
Huang He (Yellow) River, China
1887
Death Toll: 900,000 to 2,000,000

3.
Huang He (Yellow) River, China
1938
Death Toll: 500,000 - 900,000

The 1938 flood of the Huang He was caused by Nationalist Chinese troops under Chiang Kai-Shek when they broke the levees in an attempt to turn back advancing Japanese troops. The strategy was partly successful. By 1940, the Japanese were essentially in a stalemate with Chinese forces.

4.
Huang He (Yellow) River, China
1642
Death Toll: 300,000

Chinese rebels destroy the dikes along the city of Kaifeng, flooding the surrounding countryside.