Shantou Working On Earthquake Prevention 汕頭：抗震防災 事后之師

Receiving a reminding notice from the Village Committee of doing preparation for the potential flood and geological disaster, Wang Defu showed no concerned about his living environment. Residents in Little Park, the previous thriving center and the current ancient lanes, have received this remind in the damp May, as the key neighbors of flood and geo-hazards prevention. The paper suggests Little Park residents evacuate rapidly if disasters occurred. Contacts for help and consultation are on the paper, too.

Since the Sichuan “512” Earthquake, more and more Chinese get concerned about the collapsed buildings in the hard-hit zones. But Wang Defu, living in the dated house in Xinfu Road, Little Park, found no reasons to worry about. “Why worry?” he said, signing. “This is natural disaster.”

On the contrary, the retired man Cai Yuanshun complained about his apartment in ninth floor built in 1993 near Queshi Bridge. He obviously can sense the tremor when big trucks coming for the bridge pass by. On the corner of the wall near the road have appeared big flaws, from which he can even hear from the next room.

“Dated houses, Tofu projects, will surely crack down when earthquake come,” Cai said. Tofu project is a common term used in China to describe shoddy building work.

According to the data offered from the Shantou Seismology Observatory, since 1970, quakes occurred in East Guangdong were no higher than 5 degree. The biggest one during the past 100 year was 7.6 degree in Nan’ao Island in 1916. Vice-chief of the Observatory Zhou Kunlong said the possibility of high-intensity earthquake was low in Shantou. Nevertheless, being in the link of three seismic belts, Shantou is in the list of key places for seismic fortification in Guangdong Province. The seismic fortification intensity for construction in Shantou is 8 degree.

How many buildings in the city reach the standard? The answer, to the Structural engineering professor Xiong Guangjing in Shantou Universtiy, is “a census on buildings before 1990s is needed.” If any building fails to meet the standard, they must be strengthened, he said.

Tuopu is another example beyond the standard. It used to be a countryside, which determines its design of rural structure by countrymen themselves. The roads and spaces between two Buildings are narrow, and most houses are dated. Tuopu and Little Parks are facing great danger if earthquake comes, said Xiong.

"That need to be redesigned!" he said.

The response to the census thing in Shantou Seismologic Bureau, however, is “It is tough task.”

A big project annoying Cai Jiansheng, chief in the Bureau, is collecting the construction data. Since the year before last year, they have been responsible for a task of research on construction condition of both urban and rural zones. Data includes how many are high buildings, how many are in frame structure or mixed structure, etc. It will be part of the database in national government, as a reference for state leaders to make prediction of damage and lost, when disaster occurs and guide the First Aid, said Cai Jiansheng.

But work hasn’t been well conducted so far. Construction Bureau, Real Estate Bureau, Statistics Bureau can’t offer any precise data needed. It is also a huge amount of work to operate a census by the Seismic Bureau itself, which only comprises a few more than 10 staff.

“There’s no way to accomplish!” said Cai. He listed the difficulties including fund and cooperation from the residents.

Professor Xiong Guangjing underscored money when concluding the problem for census, too.

“Government, construction companies, landlords all have responsibilities.” Said Xiong. Residents' poor awareness is attributed to the failure of strengthening the house. Strengthening the house actually cost 100 to 200 Yuan per kilometer, but will necessarily lessen the space of the house because of bigger columns and beams. However, many would rather spend 1000 to 2000 per kilometer to decorate the house, said Xiong.

Shantou drew a severe lesson from Taiwan earthquake in August 16, 1994. When the 7.3 intensity quake hit the South Sea near Taiwan, Shantou was shaken with intensity 6, two died in Chaoyang Area, 141 hurt. Cai remembered that he was awakened from sleep by the tremor. He then heard two pupils died in the stampede when pupils and teachers rushed out of classrooms.

Direct economic loses was 22 million in Shantou Then. Constructions of nearly 40 thousand m2 were affected, of which schools were specially damaged, according to the report of the Seismic Bureau.

Drawing the bitter lesson, they have held propaganda annually since then, especially in schools. “Fujian Province had been less affected, because they had good education about earthquake.” Said Chief Cai.

Experts say, because of the certain function, like spacious rooms and more windows to let light in, schools building have comparatively lower utility of defending quake. So to build a firm teaching building needs more consideration about input and seismic fortification.

Based on his observation, Cai thought school buildings have been much better during these years and labeled it as one of the safest places. Another safest place is the government buildings, he said.

The Ninth Middle School in Little Park, near the Xidi Dock, is the exception. The shoddy school has started the reconstruction project.

This week, Cai will head for the No.9 School for lecturing on earthquake. This is one of recent works of him and the bureau.

“Anti-earthquake prevention has two means,” Said Cai. “One is dynamic, meaning constructive design. Two is educating residents the emergency response ability.”

Leaving the construction prevention aside temporally, coz it is now beyond officials’ capability; currently the bureau is busy with the anti-earthquake propaganda education. May is the “tech-month” in Shantou, the month for promoting science and technology. The Seismic Bureau give lectures and print booklets and papers these days.

International Children’s Day in June 1 is a chance to promote the public awareness. In that day, Education Bureau, Seismic Bureau and two sponsors held an outdoor activity in Jinsha Park, let the children make blessing and give wishes to their peers in their holiday. Exhibition on earthquake knowledge and “how to protect youself” was displayed too.

Evaluation on the buildings, the dynamic means to prevent earthquake, still should be conducted anyway. Cai resumed that Bureau of Construction, Real estate and Seismology need to be unite to take the responsibility. Plan is still in the air. All important project need to be after the central government’s leading.