China Geological Disaster: Roads Collapsed, Thousands Flee

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes as deep cracks formed in the roads of Tianjin, China, causing widespread panic.

While there have been large landslides on the city ground in recent days, deep cracks have formed on roads in areas where high-rise buildings are located. As scientists tried to understand the cause of the mysterious event, the Tianjin administration reported that what it described as a “sudden geological disaster” was thought to be caused by the collapse of underground sinkholes at a depth of 1,300 meters.

The official Global Times newspaper reported that since last week, nearly 4,000 people from three separate 25-story buildings have been evacuated from their homes and put up in hotels, with many people fleeing the city.

As the government sent investigative teams to the area, some small buildings collapsed, causing widespread panic.

Noting that such geological events are very rare, the experts noted that the event may have resulted from geothermal well drilling in the region.

Building safety and construction regulations have been the subject of controversy in China of late. While some experts argued that the buildings were not built strong enough, the Chinese government has tightened construction rules and updated disaster plans.