Concern over safety of dams

The devastating earthquake that jolted Sichuan province on Monday has raised concerns over the stability of dams and infrastructure in the afflicted mountainous area, while landslides have blocked a river that flows to the region.

Heavy rains could compound the damage by hindering rescue work, triggering mudslides and adding to pressure on weakened dams, officials and State media said yesterday.

The quake left a swathe of collapsed buildings in the steep, rainy mountain range that runs from southwest to the northeast. The dramatic shelf where the Tibetan plateau collides with the Sichuan basin is ideal for hydropower, while doubling the challenges of building roads, bridges and railways.