2010 Chihuahua Express, Days, Day 1 Chihuahua-Cd. Madera-Chihuahua
The first day had 9 speed sections. The total distance was 162.79 km. 48 drivers took the start. This stage was marked by the death of Carlos "Chino" García.


2010 Chihuahua Express, Days, Day 2 Chihuahua-Divisadero-Chihuahua
The second day had 12 speed sections. The total distance was 171.43 km. The second day was merked by the death of Hernán Solana, brother of Moises Solana.


2010 Chihuahua shootings
On June 10, 2010, at least 19 people were killed in the Mexican state of Chihuahua in shooting attacks due to an ongoing drug war. The attack was on a drug rehabilitation clinic in the state capital Chihuahua. Four other people were wounded.


2010 Chihuahua shootings, Shootings
At least 30 gunmen pulled up in six trucks and entered the second floor of the Templo Cristiano Fe y Vida (Christian Faith and Life Temple). They told anyone who asked that they were from the police before proceeding to fire at people they encountered, including staff and patients. The victims were lined up and then executed by the gunmen. The murdered patients were between the ages of 18 and 25.


2010 Chihuahua shootings, Perpetrators and motive
The perpetrators fled on foot. They are unknown, but are thought to be members of a cartel in search of revenge.


2010 Chihuahua shootings, Perpetrators and motive
According to a Chihuahuan police spokesman, the attackers described those whom they attacked as "criminals" and left messages for them expressing this.


2010 Chihuahua shootings, Response
President of Mexico Felipe Calderón issued his condemnation from South Africa, where he was attending the Mexico national football team's opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He described such attacks as "outrageous acts that reinforce the need to fight with the full force of the law criminal groups carrying out such barbarism".


2010 Chile blackout
The 2010 Chile blackout was an electric power outage that affected most of Chile on March 14, 2010. It began at 8:44 pm (23:44 GMT) on Sunday and continued into the next day. The power was restored in a few hours in some areas, and by midnight in most areas, except in the Biobío Region.


2010 Chile blackout
The blackout was caused by a failure of a 500 kV transformer at a substation in southern Chile that is part of the Central Interconnected System (SIC). The affected transformer is located around 700 kilometres (430 mi) south of the capital, Santiago. The SIC serves about 93% of the country's population, from Taltal in the north to the Chiloé Island in the south, including Santiago. At one point Santiago was receiving only 8% of the electricity normally required.


2010 Chile blackout
The blackout interrupted a music concert being held to raise funds for the survivors of the earthquake that had devastated the country two weeks earlier. In addition, thousands of people had to be rescued from the Santiago Metro after 20 trains were immobilised and the telephone network was also affected. The fire brigade had to free several people trapped in elevators.


2010 Chile blackout
The blackout affected 90% of the population and electric service began to be restored after an hour. Around 98% of people affected had service restored by March 15, 2010. The blackout caused the share price of the Enersis mining group to fall by 1% to a three-month low, although loss of production was minimal there and at other mining companies in the country because of backup generators.


2010 Chile blackout
President Sebastián Piñera blamed the power failure on the recent earthquake and said the SIC would remain unstable for a week. Other officials stated that the outage was not directly related to the earthquake. The energy minister, Ricardo Raineri, said that the electric transmission grid remains in a fragile state and asked Chileans to restrict their use of electricity. Raineri stated that during the earthquake the "electricity network suffered various damages, be it in transformers, switches and others".


2010 Chile blackout
An investigation was started to determine if the failure was due to a lack of maintenance of the transformer. Piñera vowed to get the transformer repaired within 48 hours of the blackout and to get affected transmission lines checked and repaired within seven days.


2010 Chile blackout, Blackout investigation
On August 2, 2010, the Chile regulatory authority Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) determined that while the blackout was initiated by the equipment failure, the root cause was a widespread lack of coordination between the various companies in the day-to-day operations of the electricity sector. As a result, the SEC laid charges against all 115 companies involved in the electrical sector.


2010 Chile blackout, Blackout investigation
Additional charges were filed against Endesa (Chile), Transquillota, CHILECTRA, and TRANSELEC for either equipment failures in owned facilities or for failure to provide adequate information to Chile's central electrical grid system operator, Center for Economic Load Dispatch (CDEC-SIC). Further charges were also laid for issues at the Alto Jahuel high voltage electrical substation, located south of Santiago, which led to undue delays in recovery of the Metropolitan Region.


2010 Chile blackout, Blackout investigation
The Superintendent of the SEC, Patricia Chotzen, said that "after the technical analysis of the background, as part of a complex investigation, we decided to press charges against the companies involved whom have not made the necessary arrangements, referred to in our regulations."


2010 Chile blackout, Blackout investigation
Asked about whether the blackout may have been caused by the earthquake which had occurred two weeks previous, Chotzen said that "after an event of the magnitude of the earthquake of February, the companies had a duty to increase their level of coordination to avoid a collapse like this one. It is the duty of the utilities that provide a service as fundamental as electricity to ensure continuous and safe supply." The current legislation provided for fines of up to 10 000 AWU.


2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami (Spanish: Terremoto del 27F) occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February at 03:34 local time (06:34 UTC), having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It was felt strongly in six Chilean regions (from Valparaíso in the north to Araucanía in the south), that together make up about 80 percent of the country's population. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the cities experiencing the strongest shaking—VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale (MM)—were Concepción, Arauco, and Coronel.


2010 Chile earthquake
According to Chile's Seismological Service Concepción experienced the strongest shaking at MM IX (Violent). The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago at MM VII (Very strong) or MM VIII. Tremors were felt in many Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and La Rioja. Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru (approx. 2,400 km (1,500 mi) away).


2010 Chile earthquake
The earthquake triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano. Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries, and the wave caused minor damage in the San Diego area of California and in the Tōhoku region of Japan, where damage to the fisheries business was estimated at ¥6.26 billion (US$66.7 million). The earthquake also generated a blackout that affected 93 percent of the Chilean population and which went on for several days in some locations. President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe" and sent military troops to take control of the most affected areas. According to official sources, 525 people lost their lives, 25 people went missing and about 9% of the population in the affected regions lost their homes.


2010 Chile earthquake
On 10 March, Swiss Reinsurance Co. estimated that the Chilean quake would cost insurance companies between 4 and 7 billion dollars. The rival German-based Munich Re AG made the same estimate. Earthquake's losses to the economy of Chile are estimated at US$15–30 billion.


2010 Chile earthquake, Location
According to the USGS, the epicenter of the earthquake was about 3 km (1.9 miles) off the coast of Pelluhue, a town in the Maule Region. This is about 6 km (3.7 miles) west of the village of Chovellén, 15 km (9.3 miles) southwest of the town of Pelluhue and at a point approximately 100 km (62 miles) away from the following four provincial capitals: Talca (to the north-east), Linares (to the east), Chillán (to the south-east) and Concepción (to the south). Chile's Seismological Service located the quake's epicenter at about 34 km (21 miles) off the coast of Ñuble Region in the Biobío Region. This is 60 km (37 miles) north of Concepción and 170 km (110 miles) south-west of Talca.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology
The earthquake took place along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, at a location where they converge at a rate of eighty millimeters (3 in) a year. This earthquake was characterized by a thrust-faulting focal mechanism, caused by the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American Tectonic Plates. The end-regions of the rupture zone coincided with the Andean oroclines of Maipo (33° S) and Arauco (37° S). This has been interpreted as suggesting a link between upper plate (South American plate) structure and rupture length.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology
Chile has been at a convergent plate boundary that generates megathrust earthquakes since the Paleozoic era (500 million years ago). In historical times the Chilean coast has suffered many megathrust earthquakes along this plate boundary, including the strongest earthquake ever measured, which is the 1960 Valdivia earthquake. More recently, the boundary ruptured during the 2007 Tocopilla earthquake in northern Chile.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology
The segment of the fault zone which ruptured in this earthquake was estimated to be over 700 km (430 mi) long with a displacement of almost 10 meters, or 120 years of accumulated plate movement. It lay immediately north of the 1,000 km (620 mi) segment which ruptured in the great earthquake of 1960. Preliminary measurements show that the entire South American Plate moved abruptly westward during the quake.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology
A research collaborative of Ohio State and other institutions have found, using GPS, that the earthquake shifted Santiago 28 cm (11 in) to the west-southwest and moved Concepción at least 3 metres (10 ft) to the west. The earthquake also shifted other parts of South America from the Falkland Islands to Fortaleza, Brazil. For example, it moved Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires about 2.5 cm (1 in) to the west. Several cities south of Cobquecura were also raised, by up to 3 meters. The maximum recorded peak ground acceleration was at Concepcion, with a value of 0.65 g (6.38 m/s2).


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology
The locality of Tirúa south of Concepción recorded a 180 cm uplift relative to sea level as result of the earthquake, this is the highest known uplift of the coast resulting from the earthquake. This uplift made a large islet emerge at the mouth of Lebu River.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Compared with past earthquakes
This was the strongest earthquake affecting Chile since the magnitude 9.5 1960 Valdivia earthquake (the most energetic earthquake ever measured in the world), and it was the strongest earthquake worldwide since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and until the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. It is tied with the 1906 Ecuador–Colombia and 1833 Sumatra earthquakes as the sixth strongest earthquake ever measured, approximately 500 times more powerful than the 7.0 Mw earthquake in Haiti one month prior in January 2010.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
An aftershock of 6.2 was recorded 20 minutes after the initial quake. Two more aftershocks of magnitudes 5.4 and 5.6 followed within an hour of the initial quake. The USGS said that "a large vigorous aftershock sequence can be expected from this earthquake". By 6 March UTC, more than 130 aftershocks had been registered, including thirteen above magnitude 6.0.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
Shortly after the mainshock seismologists installed a dense network of seismometers along the whole rupture area. This network captured 20,000 aftershocks in the 6 months after the mainshock and shows a detailed picture of the structure of the Chilean margin. Seismicity is focused in the depth range 25–35 km and in a deeper band of between 45 and 50 km depth. Around 10.000 aftershocks occurred in the region of two large aftershocks in the Pichilemu region.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
A 6.9-magnitude offshore earthquake struck approximately 300 kilometers southwest of, and less than 90 minutes after, the initial shock; however, it is not clear if that quake is related to the main shock. A separate earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred in Salta, Argentina, at 15:45 UTC on 27 February, at a depth of 38.2 km (23.7 mi); two people were injured and one died in Salta. This earthquake was followed on 1 March, at 06:32 UTC by a magnitude 4.9 aftershock.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
Four other earthquakes above M5.0, some possible aftershocks, also occurred near the border in Argentina following the Chile earthquake; a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred in Mendoza on 28 February, a M5.3 earthquake in Neuquen and a M5.2 in San Juan on 2 March, and a M5.1 quake in Mendoza on 4 March.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
Another strong earthquake occurred on 4 March, at 22:39 UTC in Antofagasta in northern Chile, with a magnitude of 6.3.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
Minor quakes generated by the main one could be felt as far away as São Paulo, Brazil, located about 3,000 km (1,900 mi) away from Concepción. Since the major earthquake, and as of 15 March, at least four to forty >M5.0 earthquakes have been recorded daily in the vicinity of the main earthquake, including four above magnitude 6.0 between 3 March and 6 March.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
On 5 March, two aftershocks above M6.0 were reported. The first was a 6.3-magnitude off the coast of the Biobío Region. The second was near the epicenter of the original quake at 08:47 local time with a magnitude of 6.6.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
On 11 March, the March 2010 Chile earthquake (magnitude 6.9, treated by some as an aftershock of the February 2010 earthquake) was reported, followed quickly by further aftershocks measuring 6.7 and 6.0. The epicenter of the 6.9 quake was in Pichilemu, O'Higgins Region.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
On 15 March, two aftershocks of the February 2010 earthquake were reported, one at magnitude 6.2 at 08:08:28 local time offshore Maule, and another at magnitude 6.7 with the epicenter located offshore the Biobío Region, near Cobquecura, at 23:21:58 local time. This tremor was followed by two minor aftershocks, one occurring 45 minutes later, measuring M5.5. No tsunami was reported and there were no tsunami warnings issued.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
On 17 March, at 14:38:37 local time, an earthquake of magnitude 5.2 was recorded in Aisén, in Southern Chile. Another magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded in Los Lagos the next day. On 26 March, at 10:52:06 local time, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit the Atacama region, in Northern Chile.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
The Biobio Region of Chile has had strong aftershocks of this earthquake. The first one was a magnitude 6.7 MW earthquake that struck off the coast of Biobío, Chile, at 23:21 on 15 March 2010 at the epicenter, at a depth of 18 kilometres (11 mi). The second earthquake struck on land in the region at 22:58 (UTC) on 2 April 2010 at 5.9 MW and at a depth of 39 km. The third struck on 10:03 (UTC) on 23 April 2010 at 6.2 MW.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Aftershocks
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that historical data indicates that this quake will not generate a tsunami but still advised of the possibility. On 3 May, at 19:09 a 6.4 MW earthquake magnitude struck off Biobío, Chile, at the epicenter, at a depth of 20 kilometres (12 mi). The epicenter was 55 kilometres (34 mi) south of Lebu. On 14 July 2010, another 6.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in the area.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, 2011 aftershocks
On 2 January at 17:20:18 local time, a 7.1 magnitude aftershock occurred 70 kilometers northwest of Temuco, Chile. On Lautaro, Cañete, Nueva Imperial, Traiguén and Carahue the quake was felt at intensity VI (strong) of the Mercalli intensity scale. In Temuco it was perceived at intensity V (moderate). In Talcahuano, Concepción, Chillán, Osorno and Valdivia it shook at intensity IV (light). According to the USGS the earthquake's epicenter was located on the ground, east of the coastal town of Tirúa in the Araucanía Region.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, 2011 aftershocks
However, according to the University of Chile's Seismological Service, the seismic event was located 134 kilometers off the coast of Tirúa, measuring a magnitude 6.9 ML. The University of Chile also reported that the localities who received the strongest shaking (VI) were Curanilahue, Lebu and Tirúa. In Concepción, Talcahuano and Temuco it was felt at intensity V, and in Chillán and Valdivia at intensity IV.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, 2011 aftershocks
A magnitude 6.2 Mw aftershock struck the coast of Biobío, Chile at a shallow depth of 15.1 km (9.4 mi) on 1 June 2011 at 08:55 local time (12:55  UTC). It was centered just offshore Arauco Province near a moderately populated area, with most structures in its vicinity reported to be resistant to earthquake shaking. Strong shaking registering at VI on the Mercalli intensity scale was felt in Lebu, just 7 km (4 ) south of the epicenter, lasting for approximately one minute. Some residents in coastal areas panicked and evacuated their homes. The earthquake was followed by a moderate magnitude 5.1 Mw tremor that occurred about 52 minutes later to the northeast of the main shock epicenter at an estimated depth of 26.9 km (16.7 mi). Initial estimates from the USGS placed its intensity at a magnitude of 6.4 Mw.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Geophysical impact
Seismologists estimate that the earthquake was so powerful that it may have shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the Earth's figure axis by 2.7 milliarcseconds (about 8 cm). Precise GPS measurement indicated the telluric movement moved the entire city of Concepción 3.04 metres (10.0 ft) to the west. The capital Santiago experienced a displacement of almost 24 centimetres (9.4 in) west, and even Buenos Aires, about 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) from Concepción, shifted 4 centimetres (1.6 in). It is estimated that Chile's territory could have expanded 1.2 square kilometres (0.46 sq mi) as a result.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Geophysical impact
The earthquake also caused seiches to occur in Lake Pontchartrain to the north of New Orleans, United States, located nearly 7,500 kilometres (4,700 mi) from the epicenter of the quake.


2010 Chile earthquake, Seismology and geology, Geophysical impact
In Antarctica a series of icequakes were triggered by the 2010 earthquake in Chile.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
People were found dead after the earthquake struck, mostly under buildings and inside cars. Many people were also seriously injured. Most injuries were reported in Santiago and Maule.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
According to an Associated Press Television News cameraman, some buildings collapsed in Santiago and there were power outages in parts of the city. A fire was reported in a chemical plant on the outskirts of Santiago and caused the evacuation of the neighborhood. Santiago's International Airport seemed to have been damaged and the airport authority closed off all flight operations for 24 hours from around 12:00 UTC. On Sunday, 28 February, Ricardo Ortega, head of the Chilean Air Force, said commercial airline services had been partially re-established and aircraft were being allowed to land in Santiago.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
Santiago's national Fine Arts Museum was badly damaged and did not reopen until 9 March 2010. An apartment building's two-story parking lot collapsed, wrecking 68 cars. According to one health official, three hospitals in Santiago collapsed, and a dozen more south of the capital also suffered significant damage.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
House uprooted to the streets of Pelluhue after the tsunami.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
In Valparaíso, a tsunami wave of 1.29 m was reported. The port of Valparaíso was ordered to be closed due to the damage caused by the earthquake. The port started to resume limited operations on 28 February. In Viña del Mar, a touristic city and part of Greater Valparaíso, several buildings were structurally damaged, principally in the district Plan de Viña.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
Many cities in Maule region were seriously affected by the earthquake which triggered more than 1000 landslides, a significant contributor to earthquake fatalities. Mapped from satellite images, most landslides occurring in the Principal Andean Cordillera and a constrained area on the Arauco Peninsula. Curanipe, only 8 km (5 mi) from the epicenter, was hit by a tsunami after the earthquake and still remained isolated from outside as of 28 February. A surfer said the tsunami "...was like the one in Thailand, a sudden rise of water. One could not estimate the dimension of the wave, because it was advancing foam.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
There were 10 to 15 rises, the last one being at 08:30 in the morning." In Talca, the capital of Maule region, many dead were trapped in the rubble. The administrative building was uninhabitable, and the authorities had to be set up in the parade ground. All but two of the local hospital's thirteen wings were in ruins. Dr. Claudio Martínez was quoted as saying, "We're only keeping the people in danger of dying." Hospital staff attempted to transport some patients to Santiago on Sunday morning, but roads were blocked.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
Damaged buildings and fires were reported in Concepción. Rescue teams had difficulty accessing Concepción because of the damaged infrastructure. The fifteen-story residential building "Alto Río" fell backwards, horizontally lay on the ground, and trapped many of the residents. As the building was newly completed, 19 of the apartments were occupied and 36 were unknown if there were residents therein. A 2.34 m (7.68 ft) tsunami wave hit Talcahuano, a port city and part of the Concepción conurbation. The tsunami caused serious damage to port facilities and lifted boats out of the water. In the fishing town of Dichato, which has 7,000 residents, it was the third tsunami wave that ended up being the most damaging.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
Dilapidated buildings could be seen on the streets of Temuco, about 400 km (250 mi) from the epicenter. The adobe of some buildings fell. Façades fell in pieces and crushed cars. Two people were reported dead because of not having been able to escape from a nightclub. On 27 February, it was reported that "to find an open business is almost impossible" ("Encontrar un negocio abierto es casi imposible").


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
The earthquake also triggered more than 1000 landslides mapped from satellite images  with most landslides occurring in the Principal Andean Cordillera and a constrained area on the Arauco Peninsula Landslides are a significant contributor to earthquake fatalities. In Chile, 370,000 homes were damaged. The final death toll of 525 victims and 25 people missing was announced by authorities in January 2011. This is down from early reports on 3 March of 802 people dead.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
The Chilean National Emergency Office (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia) estimated that the intensity of the earthquake was 9 on the Mercalli intensity scale in the Biobío Region and 8 in Santiago. USGS put the intensity in Talcahuano at MM VIII, in Santiago and Concepción at MM VII and in Valparaíso at MM VI.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
On 10 March, Swiss Reinsurance Co. estimated that the Chilean quake would cost the insurance industry between 4 and 7 billion dollars. The same estimate was echoed by the rival German-based Munich Re AG.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
Hernán Henríquez Hospital of Temuco had to be evacuated after the earthquake.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties
A car crushed by the rubble of a collapsed building in Temuco.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties, Identified fatalities
The records of deaths were reported by a number of different agencies at different figures immediately after the earthquake. The official total is 525 dead, 25 missing not all of which are identified in the table below.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties, Population with destroyed or severely damaged homes
The table below shows the percentage of the regional population whose homes were destroyed or were severely damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in the six most affected regions. The data were collected between May and June 2010.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties, Humanitarian response
Despite President Michelle Bachelet's earlier statement that Chile would only ask for international aid once it had assessed the extent of the damage, leaders of many countries and intergovernmental organizations, including the United Nations and European Union, responded to the earthquake and sent messages of condolence to the government and people of Chile over the loss of lives and property. Argentina, Mexico, the United States, United Kingdom, People's Republic of China, Singapore, Haiti, and Pakistan were among the countries that responded earliest following the quake. Appeals for humanitarian aid were issued by the UK-based Oxfam, Save the Children and others.


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties, Humanitarian response
Chilean television host Don Francisco led a telethon called Chile helps Chile with the goal of raising 15 billion pesos (about US$29 million) needed to build 30,000 emergency houses ("mediaguas"). The charity event, which ran for 24 hours in Santiago starting on Friday 5 March at 22:00, was summoned by the government and organized by several Chilean NGOs. At 23:00 on Saturday the goal was doubled, collecting 30.2 billion pesos (about US$58 million).


2010 Chile earthquake, Damage and casualties, Humanitarian response
The Chilean NGO Un Techo para Chile constructed 23,886 transitional houses for families affected by the earthquake.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Chaos and disorder
Nearly half the places in the country were declared "catastrophe zones", and curfews were imposed in some areas of looting and public disorder. On 28 February 2010, a day after the earthquake, some affected cities were chaotic, with extensive looting of supermarkets in Concepción. Items stolen included not only food and other necessities, but also electronic goods and other durable merchandise. To control vandalism, a special force of carabineros (police) was sent to disperse rioters with tear gas and water cannons. However, measures were taken late.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Chaos and disorder
The outgoing president didn't want to remind people of the Dictatorship years by militarizing the streets, thus failed to provide assistance on time to the city. When the situation became unsustainable and all sectors of the population were demanding actions, the government authorized the use of the military to control the affected cities. Despite these and other government acts (including the curfews), pillaging continued in both urban and rural areas of the affected zones. Reportedly, military police arrested 160 in Concepción on 1 and 2 March.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Chaos and disorder
In Concepción, despite the militarization of the zone, mobs continued to steal from supermarkets and went as far as to set one store ablaze. The government warned looters they would face the full weight of the law, as penalties for stealing are increased under a state of catastrophe. A week after the quake the police—tipped by neighbors—arrested three people with massive quantities of looted goods stashed in their homes. Other looted goods such as mattresses, furniture, television sets and other electronic appliances were abandoned in the streets of Concepción during the following days.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Chaos and disorder
According to the BBC on 5 March, the city and fishing port of Talcahuano, which lies but a few kilometers down the coast from Concepción, has been left largely to fend for itself. Neighbourhood vigilante groups, including one led by a public works employee with a gun license, and the few police present allow such behavior as residents' siphoning fuel from tanks at a petrol station, but step in if someone starts to attack a cash machine. One man stated, "I've personally saved dozens of people from attack in this apartment block."


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Chaos and disorder
Chileans living in regions not affected by the earthquake (including those living abroad) also grieved, as they sought to learn more regarding kinsmen and friends affected by the earthquake. In the hardest-hit zones there was no communication with the exterior because of the failure of electricity and the destruction of telephone lines.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Prison escape
In the prison of El Manzano in Concepción, a prison riot began after a failed escape attempt by the inmates. Different parts of the prison were set afire and the riot was brought under control only after the guards shot into the air and received help from military units.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Prison escape
By 1 March, prison guards in a prison in Chillán had recaptured 36 of 203 prisoners who had escaped following the earthquake. During their escape, prisoners burned seven houses close to the prison. A witness in Chillán asserted that he had been robbed by prisoners with a machine gun who had also forced his girlfriend to kiss them. Another witness alleged sexual molestation by around twenty men who were believed to be escaped prisoners. The leading Chilean newspaper El Mercurio described the situation in Chillán as reminiscent of the "Wild West".


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Government response
Four hours after the earthquake, when the death count was still low, President Bachelet gave a press conference in which she informed the population of the situation and stated that Chile did not yet need international aid. However, about two million people were affected by the quake with more than 500,000 houses uninhabitable. In many cities, people slept in tents, in parks or simply on the streets for fear of aftershocks. The government began distributing food and other vital aid around the country.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Government response
On 28 February, President Bachelet said that her government had reached an agreement with the major supermarkets which would allow them to give away basic foodstuffs in stock to people affected by the earthquake. By 28 February, the Santiago Metro rapid-transit network was already partially up and running and expected to be fully operative on the following day, 1 March.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Government response
On 4 March, President-elect Sebastián Piñera, who assumed office on 11 March, was quoted as saying that his goals were "to cope with the emergency needs of citizens, find people who are still missing, provide prompt and timely assistance to the sick and wounded, and restore law and order so that people can return to peace."


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Economic recovery
Authorities of the central port city of San Antonio speaking on 3 March 2010, stated that the port had returned to eighty percent of capacity. On the same date, Raul Maturana, a spokesman for the Federation of Port Workers' union, stated that the port of Valparaíso was operating normally. However, ports in southern Chile, which were closer to the epicenter, remained closed.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Economic recovery
On 4 March, President Bachelet said that Chile would need international loans and three to four years to rebuild.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Food scarcity
On 10 March the National Commission for Agricultural emergencies (CNEA) assured that milk and wheat prices would not rise, despite fears of lack of fuel supply for transport and harvest of these products. In the same CNEA report the mill associations of central and southern Chile are said to have expressed that they had currently no production difficulties. Despite this on 11 March newspaper La Segunda cited the president of the bakeries association complaining on unjustified price rises for flour, who said of cases of price rises of 10 to 20%.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Food scarcity
The earthquake affected production at the Compañía de Cervecerías Unidas (CCU) and Cervecería Chile factories that together have a 90% share of the Chilean beer market. With an average annual per capita consumption of 36 liters, scarcity caused prices to rise from 990–1500 to 2000 Chilean pesos per litre. CCU responded by increasing capacity of their plant in Temuco that did not suffer major damage during the earthquake and by importing beer from their factories in Argentina. 50 trucks with beer are reported to have reached Santiago from Argentina.


2010 Chile earthquake, Conditions in the aftermath, Food scarcity
In March 2010, ten CCU executives said that the country will not run out of beer and that within two to three months production levels would be normalized. Liquor store owners expressed complaints regarding a beer rationing scheme implemented by CCU. The scarcity favored consumption of "premium beers" like Kunstmann and Paceña.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
A tsunami warning was first declared for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch for Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama and Costa Rica. The warning was later extended to a Pacific Ocean-wide warning, covering all coastal areas on the Pacific Ocean except the west coast of the United States, British Columbia, and Alaska. Hawaiian media reported that tsunami warning sirens first sounded at 06:00 local time.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center issued advisories about potential tsunami of less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) striking the Pacific Ocean coastline between California and most of Alaska late in the afternoon or through the evening 12 or more hours after the initial earthquake. Although the earthquake killed far fewer people than the Haitian earthquake less than 7 weeks prior, it was still devastating. The tsunami warning was cancelled for all countries except Japan and Russia in PTWC Bulletin 18 of 00:12 UTC on 28 February 2010.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
In general, tsunamis tend to come in several waves, of which the first may not be the highest.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
The U.S. National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning throughout a huge swathe of the Pacific region, including Antarctica. In the Americas, the warning extended to Chile (including Easter Island), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
A warning was also issued for the Oceania and Pacific Islands nations and territories of American Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (including the FSM states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap), Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Jarvis Island, Johnston Island, the Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, Marcus Island, the Marshall Islands, Midway Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna and Wake Island. Tsunami warnings were also in effect as far away as East and Southeast Asia including Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Russia and Taiwan.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
Coastal areas of Canada's westernmost province British Columbia was under a tsunami advisory, and this was the most alarming advisory as the earthquake occurred during the same time as the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. No large wave was expected to strike British Columbia, but strong local ocean currents combined with a wave put low-lying coastal regions at risk of flooding. The first wave was expected to reach southern British Columbia at 15:11 local time. Residents were advised to avoid beaches, harbors and marinas.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
A tsunami advisory was also issued for coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington and southern Alaska in the United States. This tsunami advisory was canceled as of 07:13UTD on 28 February.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
Russian authorities lifted a tsunami alert for the Kamchatka coast, after the arrival of a 0.8 m (2.6 ft) surge that caused no damage. The tsunami was also reported to be small along the Japanese coast, and passed without incident. Many coastal areas in Japan had been evacuated as a precaution.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami
The projections use DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) gauges spread along the sea floor, which is a fairly new technology. Initial deep sea readings showed wave height of 25 centimeters, which is huge for deep water, according to Gerard Fryer of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. He went on to say, "although it was huge, we didn't quite know what it meant because we haven't much experience with those. As we get more under our belts, we'll get better."


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Chile
Some 30 minutes after the first shock, consecutive tsunamis hit coastal towns, among which Constitución suffered the hardest damage; subsequently, a tsunami amplitude of up to 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) high was recorded in the sea at Valparaíso. A wave amplitude of 2.34 m (7.68 ft) was recorded at Talcahuano in the Biobío Region. Robinson Crusoe Island, the largest of the Juan Fernández Islands, was struck by a large wave which led to the deaths of four people on the island, with eleven people reported as missing, according to Provincial Governor Ivan De La Maza. President Bachelet is reported to have sent an aid mission to the remote island.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Chile
As a precaution against the coming tsunami, partial evacuation was ordered in Easter Island, about 3,510 km (2,180 mi) away from the coast of Chile. The tsunami wave arrived in Easter Island at 12:05 UTC, measuring 0.35 m (1.15 ft).


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Chile
On 27 February, defense minister Francisco Vidal said that the Chilean Navy had made a mistake by not immediately issuing a tsunami warning after the earthquake, a step that could have helped coastal villagers flee to higher ground sooner. However, an alarm was later sounded by port captains and saved some lives. Mariano Rojas Bustos, then head of Chile's oceanographic service SHOA, which is part of the country's navy, was later fired for the organization's failure to provide clear warnings about the tsunami.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
Initially, the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) said they did not expect a tsunami to reach New Zealand, but later issued a warning stating that waves of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high were likely for the eastern and later the entire New Zealand coast. By 19:55 UTC (08:40 local), CDEM reported wave activity of 50 cm (1.6 ft) in the Chatham Islands, and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) surges were reported there later in the morning.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
A surge 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) high hit the South Island's Banks Peninsula, while surges up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high were reported in the northern North Island. By mid afternoon (local time), Civil Defence had downgraded the tsunami warning to an alert, while still advising that sea levels could change quickly for up to 24 hours from the initial surge.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
The U.S. Antarctic Program's coastal station along the Antarctic Peninsula, Palmer Station, went on a tsunami alert shortly after the earthquake struck Chile. To prepare for a possible tsunami, station personnel removed all Zodiac boats from the water and moved any materials from low-lying areas that waves could have swept away. Personnel also retreated to the station's highest building, GWR, while the tsunami warning was in effect, Ellis said. Palmer personnel developed a tsunami emergency plan following the 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean that created a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. While no noticeable tsunami occurred at Palmer, the station tide monitor displayed bumps of several centimeters, signifying that a small wave had indeed reached the shores of Anvers Island.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center (JATWC) sent out tsunami warnings for New South Wales, Queensland, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Tasmania, and Victoria. The organization warned of the possibility of dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding to occur on the east coast of Australia for several hours on Sunday. As a result of the warnings, patrolled beaches in New South Wales and Queensland remained closed (red flags) and lifeguards ushered people to leave the water. However beach goers and surfers ignored the warnings.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
Numerous onlookers also crowded parts of the shore to view potential effects of the tsunami. The beach ban was lifted by the end of the day and there was no reports of damage, flooding or other emergencies. Tsunami waves of between 10 cm and 50 cm were recorded and their surges were believed to have created strong currents. Increases in sea levels include: Norfolk Island 50 cm, Gold Coast (Qld) 20 cm, Port Kembla (NSW) 14 cm, Southport (Tas) 17 cm.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
A wave measuring up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) high struck portions of French Polynesia between 15:50 to 17:50 UTC with no reports of injuries as of February 28, 2010. A wave 4 meters high is reported to have struck Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands. The first waves were expected to hit the main island of Tahiti at approximately 16:50 UTC (07:50 local). Cars and other automobiles were banned from roads closer than 500 m (1,600 ft) from the Pacific Ocean.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
Réseau France Outre-mer in Papeete reported that a wave measuring less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) passed east of the Gambier Islands with no damage, according to Monique Richeton, the mayor of Rikitea. Residents of the Tuamotus, which are low-lying, were told to move to the highest points on the island.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
The first wave was expected to reach American Samoa, which is still recovering from the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami, at 08:51 local time. Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia urged residents not to rush to A'oloau, a high elevation area on Tutuila, as it could cause traffic jams, putting safety at risk. Many coastal towns, including the main city of Pago Pago, had already been heavily damaged in the 2009 tsunami. The first wave arrived on Pago Plaza at 21:58 UTC.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued an advisory that tsunami wave(s)were expected to hit the eastern coast of the Philippines on Sunday between 05:00 and 06:30 UTC (13:00 and 14:30 local). Residents of 19 eastern provinces "are advised to prepare for possible evacuation." However, at 15:15 on 28 February 2010, all warnings were canceled.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
United States Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka issued a joint press release announcing the first tsunami evacuation in Hawaii since 1994. Warning sirens were sounded throughout the state, as hotels in Waikiki evacuated tourists at 6 a.m. People in tall buildings were encouraged to move above the third floor. Waves measuring 2.7 metres high were originally predicted to strike Hilo Bay on the Big Island of Hawai'i at 11:05 local time (21:05 GMT), but by 11:18, major receding and waves had not been reported on the shoreline. By 11:40, several waves hit the islands amounting to raising and lowering of the sea near the coast, and a fourth wave hit around 13:12. The tsunami warning for Hawaii was canceled in the early afternoon on Saturday, 27 February.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Oceania
Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was quoted as saying: "We expected the waves to be bigger in Hawaii, maybe about 50 percent bigger than they actually were." Early in the morning, the Center expected waves of 3 metres. In actuality, the highest tsunami waves ended up being about 1.5 to 1.8 metres peak to trough.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, North America
At around 23:00 UTC (15:00 local), a tsunami warning was issued for coastal British Columbia. Extra precautions were already in place due to the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver at the time.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, North America
Small waves were expected in Southern California, and receding was reported at Long Beach. Minor damage was reported on some coastal areas. The tsunami damaged navigation buoys at Ventura. Additionally, a boat was torn loose from its mooring and minor erosion occurred within Ventura Harbor. Damage to docks and pilings in the area was moderate.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, North America
In Guerrero, surges of between 30 cm and 1 meter and receding of up to 10 m were reported, and three small vessels were sunk at Tecpán de Galeana. The state tourism authorities announced they would be sending a letter to the CNN news network to protest the "alarming" way in which it had forecast a tsunami for the major tourist destination of Acapulco.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Tsunami-related aid given
Argentina has sent construction teams to Chiloé Island to help reconstruct some of the washed away coastal buildings. In July 2010, the government of Argentina released a statement that they would lend $300 million to Chile for reconstruction efforts using Argentine goods.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Data
The following data, published by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the National Tsunami Warning Center, lists measured and reported values of the tsunami when it arrived at specific places. Some data is taken from the Chilean Army.


2010 Chile earthquake, Tsunami, Data
Countries with coastal areas that were at risk (in pink).


2010 Chilean telethon
The 2010 Chilean telethon was the 23rd version of this telethon, the aim this year being to raise funds for the rehabilitation of children with motor disabilities. The event, which aired over 27 consecutive hours through the Chilean television channels grouped in the National Television Association (Anatel), was held from Telethon Theatre on December 3 and 4 and from the National Stadium in its final stage, and was produced and directed by Mauricio Correa. The poster child was Cristóbal Galleguillos, born with no upper limbs and malformed legs.


2010 Chilean telethon
It is the second national telethon after the Chile helps Chile, aired in March of that year, to be broadcast in HDTV. This version was performed 2 years after the previous because in December 2009 parliamentary and presidential elections took place. This was the first telethon to be held during the first government of Sebastián Piñera.


2010 Chilean telethon
After almost 28 hours of uninterrupted transmission, the amount collected during was CL$ 18,890,559,347 (USD$ 39,167,654), beating, a 13.87%, the original goal. On 21 December, the Fundación Teletón's Directorate gave the final figure achieved in this campaign, reaching a total of CL$24,420,293,420 (USD$50,632,995), 47.20% above the goal set.


2010 China Baseball League season
The 2010 China Baseball League season saw the Guangdong Leopards defeat the Beijing Tigers in 2 games to win the Championship Series.


2010 China League One
The 2010 China League One is the 7th season since the establishment.


2010 China League One, Teams
After 2009 season, Liaoning Whowin and Nanchang Bayi Hengyuan were promoted to Chinese Super League 2010 and Sichuan F.C. were relegated to China League Two 2010. They were replaced by Hunan Billows and Hubei Luyin which promoted from League Two 2009, Chengdu Blades and Guangzhou F.C. who relegated from Super League 2009. Beijing Baxy&Shengshi took over Beijing Hongdeng and take their position within the division.


2010 China League One, Teams
Chengdu Blades and Guangzhou F.C., who finished in 7th and 9th place in Super League 2009, were relegated from the top flight for match-fixing scandals, while Qingdao Hailifeng, who finished in 10th place in League One 2009, were banned from all future national matches organized by the CFA for the same reason.


2010 China League One, Teams
On 21 July 2010, Guangzhou Evergrande trounced Nanjing Yoyo 10-0 at Century Lotus Stadium, setting a new record in Chinese professional football league for biggest ever League win in the process.


2010 China League One, Teams
On 25 September 2010, Guangzhou Evergrande and Chengdu Blades promoted to the Chinese Super League for the 2011 season after Hubei Luyin draw 1-1 with Shanghai Zobon. On 23 October, Nanjing Yoyo relegated to China League Two after a 5-0 home defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande.


2010 China League Two
The 2010 China League Two season is the 21st season since its establishment. League kicked off on 9 May 2010.


2010 China Masters Super Series
The 2010 China Masters Super Series was a top level badminton competition which was held from September 14, 2010 to September 19, 2010 in Changzhou, China. It was the seventh BWF Super Series competition on the 2010 BWF Super Series schedule. The total purse for the event was $250,000.


2010 China Open (snooker)
The 2010 Sanyuan Foods China Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament that took place between 29 March and 4 April 2010 at the Beijing University Students' Gymnasium in Beijing, China. This was the first time that the China Open was sponsored by Sanyuan Foods.


2010 China Open (snooker)
Peter Ebdon was the defending champion, but he lost 2–5 to Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals.


2010 China Open (snooker)
Mark Williams won in the final, 10–6, against Ding Junhui.


2010 China Open (snooker), Prize fund
The breakdown of prize money for this year is shown below:


2010 China Open (snooker), Wildcard round
These matches were played in Beijing on 29 March 2010.


2010 China Open (snooker), Qualifying
These matches took place between 2 and 5 February 2010 at the Pontin's Centre, Prestatyn, Wales.


2010 China Open (tennis)
The 2010 China Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 12th edition of the China Open for the men (14th for the women), and is part of the ATP 500 Series of the 2010 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2010 WTA Tour. Both the men's and the women's events were held at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from October 1 through October 11, 2010. Due to rain the singles finals were postponed from Sunday, October 10 to Monday, October 11.


2010 China Open (tennis), WTA entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2010 China Open (tennis), ATP entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2010 China Open (tennis), Champions, Men's Doubles
Bob Bryan /  Mike Bryan def. Mariusz Fyrstenberg /  Marcin Matkowski, 6–1, 7–6(7–5)


2010 China Open (tennis), Champions, Women's Doubles
Chuang Chia-jung /  Olga Govortsova def. Gisela Dulko /  Flavia Pennetta, 7–6(7–2), 1–6, [10–7].


2010 China Open Super Series
The 2010 China Open Super Series was a top level badminton competition which was held from 30 November–5 December 2010 at the Yuanshen Gymnasium in Shanghai, China. It was the eleventh BWF Super Series competition on the 2010 BWF Super Series schedule. The total purse for the event was $250,000.


2010 China Open – Men's Doubles
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan successfully defended their 2009 title. They defeated Polish pair Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6–1, 7–6(7–5) in the final match.


2010 China Open – Men's Singles
Novak Djokovic was the defending champion and defended his title, defeating David Ferrer 6–2, 6–4 in the final.


2010 China Open – Women's Doubles
Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai were the defending champions, but they competed with different partners. Hsieh played with Natalie Grandin, while Peng partnered with Kimiko Date-Krumm, but they all lost in the second round (Grandin/Hsieh lost to Vera Dushevina and Arantxa Parra Santonja, Date-Krumm/Peng lost to Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova). In the end, it was Chuang Chia-jung and Olga Govortsova who won in the final against Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta, 7–6(2), 1–6, [10–7].


2010 China Open – Women's Doubles, Seeds
The top four seeds receive a bye into the second round.


2010 China Open – Women's Singles
Svetlana Kuznetsova was the defending champion, but she subsequently lost to Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci in the first round.


2010 China Open – Women's Singles
First-seeded Caroline Wozniacki won the title by beating Vera Zvonareva in the final 6–3, 3–6, 6–3. Wozniacki became the first player to win titles in both Beijing and Tokyo in the same year.


2010 China Open – Women's Singles
After defeating Petra Kvitová in the third round, Wozniacki became the World No. 1 singles player for the first time in her career, displacing an injured Serena Williams.


2010 China drought and dust storms
The 2010 China drought and dust storms were a series of severe droughts during the spring of 2010 that affected Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Hebei and Gansu in the People's Republic of China as well as parts of Southeast Asia including Vietnam and Thailand, and dust storms in March and April that affected much of East Asia. The drought has been referred to as the worst in a century in southwestern China.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Causes
Prior to the drought in Yunnan and Guizhou, the China Meteorological Administration recorded temperatures averaging 2 °C warmer than normal over six months and half the average precipitation for the past year across the region, both unprecedented since at least the 1950s. The effects of El Niño are believed to be contributing to the drought, which may be exacerbated by global warming, as some areas in Yunnan have recorded record high temperatures during the winter since record-keeping began in 1950. Some areas in the drought-affected regions have seen no rainfall since before October.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Causes
Spring dust storms are common in China, but have become more severe in recent years due to desertification, deforestation, drought, urban sprawl and overgrazing. Countries downstream from Yunnan are also affected by drought conditions upriver, and some places including much of Vietnam have seen very little precipitation since the previous September. A severe drought in 2009 also affected much of northern and northeast China, resulting in agricultural losses of up to 50%.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
By March 22, 2010, about 51 million people faced water shortages in a number of provinces. Commodities including sugar cane, flowers, tea, fruit, potatoes, rapeseed, medicinal ingredients, tobacco, wheat, rubber and coffee have been severely affected with output reduced by as much as 50%. Authorities began to fear unrest due to soaring food prices and sent more than 10,000 armed police to the affected regions to ensure stability and help with water supplies. More than 20 million people are left without adequate drinking water in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan and Chongqing, and many wells in Yunnan have gone dry.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The three wells in the village of Xiazha in Guangxi Autonomous Region were reported to have gone completely dry for the first time since 1517, in addition to three reservoirs in the area going dry. Economic damage to agriculture and failed electricity generation from hydroelectric dams from the drought was estimated to be at least 24 billion Chinese yuan ($3.5 billion USD). Around 3,600 rivers and brooks in Guizhou have run dry, while 916,000 ha of crops were affected by drought in the province and one million farmers have left to find work in other provinces.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The drought affected over 28 million farmers, and a grain shortage has affected 8 million people. The Chinese government has transferred 1.7 million tonnes of grain to the region to reduce potential inflation. About 4.348 million ha of cropland were affected by the drought in Southwestern China and 942,000 ha would yield no harvest by late March, according to China's State Commission of Disaster Relief. In late March, the government began cloud seeding in Guizhou using silver iodide to produce rain.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
By April 10, the drought had eased in Chongqing due to heavy rain, but it had affected over 18 million livestock and 8.13 million ha of land. In parts of Yunnan Province inhabited by the Dai people, officials cancelled or shortened the Songkran water dousing festival due to the water shortage, including in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture and Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. By early June, the drought had affected close to 5 million hectares of land.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The drought may also affect water levels at the headwaters of the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween Rivers. Some experts believe that hydropower production may be contributing to the water shortage from the drought. Countries downstream of the Mekong, including Thailand, suggested that the building of dams on the river such as at Lancang may be worsening the effects of drought on the river's water levels, which were at their lowest in 20 years. Fisheries along the Mekong in Thailand have halted, and 7.9 million people in the country are affected by the drought. 3,674 small dams within the river basin have dried up.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The drought in Vietnam was described as the country's worst in a century. The Red River near Hanoi was by early March at a level of 0.68 m (2.2 ft), the lowest on record, and rice plantations have been severely affected. Timber fires have been sparked in several regions. The Mekong Delta experienced its lowest water levels in nearly 20 years, threatening to produce saltwater intrusion in dry areas. Some parts of Vietnam are forecast to possibly receive no rain until August. A power shortage of up to one billion kilowatt-hours could also hit the country as less water is available for hydroelectricity.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The El Niño conditions of the winter prior to the drought has raised concerns that the rice crop in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines may be significantly reduced by the summer.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The lack of precipitation caused land subsidence at Kunming Wujiaba International Airport in Yunnan.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
About 5,000 villagers in Yunnan Province have left their homes from the drought for streams near Himalayan foothills, and many residents in Guangxi who are able to leave have also left. However, officials have denied reports of drought refugees leaving their villages. The source of the Pearl River's headwaters was cut off, and its outflow was severely reduced. Water rationing was put into practice in some rural regions.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
Shortages of drinking water also affected parts of Inner Mongolia, including a water shortage for over 250,000 residents of Chifeng. Reservoirs in the city held 73.7% less water than they did one year prior and water volume had reduced by 77.4% in major rivers in the area by mid-April.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
The drought has affected non-ferrous metal production in Guangxi, including of electrolytic zinc, with companies in Nandan County cutting production by 30%.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
Premier Wen Jiabao visited southwestern China three times during the drought, including a three-day tour in mid-March in Yunnan, including Luliang County, which had seen no rainfall since August, to promote water conservation, and another visit in early April 2010 to several Miao and Buyei autonomous prefectures in Guizhou, some of the worst-hit places where farming has been made impossible.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Water shortages
Most provinces in South China affected by the drought were hit by a series of floods beginning in mid-May that ended most of the drought but also destroyed large areas of farmland.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Dust storms
Strong dust storms from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia hit Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea and Japan by March 22, before being carried across the Pacific Ocean by the jet stream, with some dust reaching the West Coast of the United States. The dust storm in late March spiralled around a strong low pressure system. Many areas recorded an extremely rare level 5 "hazardous" rating for air quality. Many flights in Beijing were also delayed or cancelled. Air pollution readings in Hong Kong reached a record high, reaching at least 15 times the recommended maximum levels by the World Health Organization. Taiwan also reported a new record for worst sandstorm conditions.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Dust storms
A strong sandstorm tore through Turpan in Xinjiang on April 23, sparking fires that killed two people and forcing a shutdown of rail and road traffic for six hours.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Relief
Oxfam Hong Kong provided water in Yunnan. A major fundraiser was also held that raised 280 million yuan. Many celebrities took part including Wang Feng, Elva Hsiao, Andy Lau, He Jie, Jackie Chan, Ye Bei, Yan Weiwen, Zhou Xiao'ou (周晓欧), Bibi Zhou, and Yang Zi. The Hong Kong government also approved a HK$1.4 million grant.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Relief
Many donations of bottled water have also arrived in Guizhou and other parts of southwestern China from around the country.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Algal blooms
In mid-June 2010, a large algal bloom, consisting of enteromorpha algae, developed off the coast of Shandong, in the Yellow Sea. Causes of the algal outbreak include marine pollution from sewage and agricultural run-off, in addition to run-off from fish farms, worsened by eutrophication following the drought, subsequent flooding and heat wave, as well as high sea surface temperatures in the area. The bloom continues to expand, and preparations have been made for a flotilla of vessels to ward off the bloom, covering an area of 400 km2 (150 sq mi), the largest bloom since 2008.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Algal blooms
The patch of algae since expanded offshore Jiangsu Province, and is pushing toward the city of Qingdao. The Chinese State Oceanic Administration has warned that the algae could threaten marine life and local tourism, and other scientists have stated that the bloom could decompose on beaches and release toxic gases if not cleaned up. Close to 4,000 tonnes a day of algae is being removed from the bloom, to be sent off and used as animal feed or fertilizer. Green and red tides have become more common in China in recent years.


2010 China drought and dust storms, Algal blooms
The green tides from the current algal blooms can also result in dead zones from localized ocean anoxia. Large blooms of jellyfish, including giant Nomura's jellyfish have also appeared off Shandong and around the coasts of Japan within the past decade, as a result of the same type of pollution in dead zones.


2010 China floods
The 2010 China floods began in early May 2010. Three hundred and ninety-two people died, and a further 232 people were reported missing as of June 30, 2010, including 57 people in a landslide in Guizhou. Fifty-three of the deaths occurred from the flooding and landslides between May 31 and June 3, and 266 deaths occurred between June 13 and June 29.


2010 China floods
Four hundred and twenty four people were killed by the end of June, including 42 from the Guizhou landslide; 277 more were killed and 147 left missing in the first two weeks of July, bringing the death toll as of August 5 to 1,072. A landslide in early August in Gansu killed at least 1,471 people and left 294 missing. In total, the flooding and landslides killed at least 3,185 people in China by August 31.


2010 China floods
More than 230 million people in 28 provinces, municipalities and regions, especially the southern and central provinces and regions of Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing Municipality, Gansu, Sichuan and Guizhou, and the northeastern province of Jilin were affected, while at least 4.66 million people were evacuated because of the risk of flooding and landslides in the latter half of June. By early August, over 12 million people were evacuated, and that number rose to 15.2 million by August 31.


2010 China floods
Millions lacked drinking water. A total of 1.36 million houses were destroyed and more than 97,200 square kilometres (37,500 sq mi) of crops were inundated, while 8,000 km2 (3,100 sq mi) of farmland had been completely destroyed by the end of June. Dozens of rivers remained flooded, including the Pearl River in Guangdong province, which had been affected by severe drought during the spring as its outflow was severely reduced. The total damages from the floods were roughly 83.8 billion yuan as of June 27, 2010, and over 275 billion yuan (41 billion USD) by August 8. By late August,16.5 million hectares (41 million acres) of farmland were affected by the flooding, while 2.09 million hectares (5.2 million acres) were completely destroyed.


2010 China floods
In late May 2010, heavy rainfall caused a train derailment in Jiangxi, killing at least 19 people, and the closure of the Shanghai-Kunming railway line for 24 hours due to a landslide.


2010 China floods
Many major rivers in China, including the Yangtze, Yellow and Songhua Rivers were flooded to danger levels. The Chinese Government allocated over 2.1 billion yuan for rescue and relief work. The Jialing River, Han River and Huai River  surged higher than warning levels.


2010 China floods, Effects
The grim situation of the 2010 South China floods exceeded the levels of the 1998 Yangtze River floods. The flooding attracted attention from the state leaders of the Chinese Government and the public, who brought aid to the victims of the flooding. The death toll from the floods continued to rise, as floodwaters began to recede in some areas by the end of June.


2010 China floods, Effects
Throughout the East Asian Monsoon season, the worst of the flooding shifted from Southwestern China to Central China by June and July and moved to Northern and Northeastern China by late July and August, leaving the southern provinces in a heat wave while the Northeastern and Northwestern provinces were continuously lashed by flooding rains. Unusual climate patterns were linked to the persistent flooding, including an El Niño-like Modoki, jet stream patterns (also possibly linked to low solar activity), deforestation worsening the landslides and global warming.


2010 China floods, Effects, Guizhou Province
After experiencing severe drought, heavy rains triggered a landslide in Guizhou Province around 2:30 pm on June 28 that trapped 99 people in the village of Dazhai, Gangwu Township, Anshun. Ganwu received 257 millimetres (10.1 in) of rain on June 27, a record for the township, and the resulting landslide lasted two minutes and unleashed up to 2 million cubic metres (2.6 million cu yd) of mud and rock, burying at least 37 buildings and homes in Dazhai. Officials  stated there was little hope for survival of the buried victims, and the torrential rains were likely to continue. The rains hampered rescue efforts in the search for survivors from the 38 families buried by the landslide. Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged the use of all resources to rescue any survivors. The first body, a child, was found by rescue workers in the late afternoon of June 29.


2010 China floods, Effects, Guizhou Province
More than 1,100 rescue workers searched to find the remaining victims, including up to 30 children and infants, and eight of the original missing turned up alive. By July 1, 10 bodies had been found at the site of the landslide, and 89 still missing and feared dead. At least 1,000 people were evacuated from the village in the aftermath of the landslide. A total of 42 bodies were found by June 29, and the remaining 57 missing were presumed dead.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jiangxi Province
Seventeen levees were breached in Jiangxi and 33,900 water conservancy projects were damaged. The direct economic loss is about 25.5 billion yuan. A 347-metre-wide  (1,138 ft) breach of the Changkai dike on the Fuhe River, which burst its banks on June 21 and again on June 23, in Luozhen Township, Fuzhou City, forced 1.32 million people to evacuate. The breach was repaired on June 27. The local and provincial government provided tents, quilts, blankets, clothing and water dispensers to the affected residents. The flood crest of the Gan River passed the city of Nanchang on June 23.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jiangxi Province
Residents of the city of Ganzhou were protected from the flooding by drains built in the area during the Song Dynasty.


2010 China floods, Effects, Fujian Province
In Fujian, 400 victims of flooding were safely transferred and properly rehoused. Seventy-six people were killed and 79 were missing from landslides in the province by June 21. The village of Baozhuang was completely cut off for six days before rescue workers brought the residents to safety. More than ten consecutive days of rain hit Nanping, and factories were destroyed. The number of people affected was totalled at 1.3 million, damages totalled 5.5 billion yuan, and 365,000 people were relocated. Flooding destroyed a bridge in the province on July 7, travel was disrupted in 20 counties and the town of Taining was completely under water at one point.


2010 China floods, Effects, Guangxi Autonomous Region
34.96 million people in Guangxi were affected, 37 deaths, 164.58 thousand hectares of crops affected, 16,395 residential housings collapsed. The direct economic loss is about 24.0543 million yuan, of which 10.2081 million were agricultural losses.


2010 China floods, Effects, Guangxi Autonomous Region
On June 2, 42 people were killed in a series of landslides that hit Cenxi, Rong County, Teng County, Donglan County and Fangchenggang City.


2010 China floods, Effects, Anhui Province
At least four million people have been affected in Anhui Province. 5,100 houses have collapsed, and a further 17,700 houses were damaged.


2010 China floods, Effects, Gansu Province
Landslides in Zhugqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province late in the night on August 7 buried Yueyuan Village, a village of 300 families, killing 1,435 people, and leaving 330 others missing. The landslide buried half of Chengguan Township, the county seat, surrounding the village with water and destroying an area 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long, 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) deep before water levels receded. About 45,000 people were evacuated from the site, and 1,243 others were rescued by the army  and local residents.


2010 China floods, Effects, Gansu Province
Excavators and large rescue vehicles were not able to reach the scene because of landslides and floodwaters. Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in the county at 4:35 pm on August 8. A power outage following the slide covered two-thirds of the county. The Bailong River was dammed by the landslide and started to overflow around 1 am on August 8, creating a landslide lake 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long, 100 metres (330 ft) wide and 9 metres (30 ft) deep, holding 1.5 million m3 of water and submerging parts of the town, forcing 19,000 people downstream.


2010 China floods, Effects, Gansu Province
Demolition experts started working on the lake to release some of its water. The death toll continued to rise, and more rain fell in the area afterwards, hampering relief efforts. A rare national day of mourning was held in China to remember the victims of the Gansu mudslide on August 15. There was speculation that the approximately 1,700 people made homeless by the landslides and relocated would have to spend the winter in tents.


2010 China floods, Effects, Gansu Province
On August 13, 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of torrential rain fell overnight and landslides hit Longnan City. As of August 17, there were 36 deaths and  23 missing. Evacuees totaling 122,835 were evacuated to emergency shelters and 295 people were injured by the mudslides and landslides. In Tianshui, at least four people died. Over 10,600 people were evacuated from Longnan.


2010 China floods, Effects, Sichuan Province
The flooding affected 31.81 million people in Sichuan, including Luzhou city's 95 townships. The direct economic loss of Luzhou was about 132 million yuan. The total direct economic loss was about 6.89 billion yuan, and 25,000 homes were damaged in the flooding in August.


2010 China floods, Effects, Sichuan Province
A landslide in the village of Wangong, Hanyuan County, left 21 people missing after burying 58 homes on July 27 and forcing 4,000 to evacuate.


2010 China floods, Effects, Sichuan Province
In Mianzhu and Deyang, heavy rains started on August 12 and landslides hit on August 13, killing five people and trapping 500 more in an area devastated by the recent drought and the earthquake in 2008. Sixteen people were dead after the flooding and mudslides since August 13. Sixty-six were declared missing, by August 20, including at least 38 in Wenchuan County,  Ten thousand people were forced to evacuate. Further landslides killed 18 people, injured nine and left four missing in Wenchuan and Qingchuan County. Landslides created a flood lake in Yingxing Township, and floodwaters 4 metres (13 ft) deep  covered a 200 metres (660 ft) stretch of the only highway that links Wenchuan and Chengdu.


2010 China floods, Effects, Sichuan Province
In Guanghan, a train travelling from Xi'an to Kunming along the Baoji-Chengdu Railway derailed after floods washed away a section of a bridge on August 19. Two carriages of the train were washed into the river after dangling for a few minutes, but all passengers were safely rescued.


2010 China floods, Effects, Hunan Province
People in 14 cities in Hunan were affected, and 25,300 houses collapsed at the time of the report. The province experienced its worst flooding since 2003. In late June, floodwaters threatened the major city of Changsha, as water levels rose 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) above danger level, the highest in a decade, and the third-highest since 1953.


2010 China floods, Effects, Hubei Province
In Hubei, the Han River at Wuhan experienced its worst flooding in twenty years, as officials continued sandbagging efforts along the Han and Yangtze Rivers in the city and checked reservoirs.


2010 China floods, Effects, Hubei Province, Three Gorges Dam
By July 20, the Yangtze River at the Three Gorges Dam experienced its highest river discharge since the dam was built. The dam's outflow released 40,000 m3/s of water, with 30,000 m3/s of the river flow  held back behind the dam, after water levels in the Reservoir rose four metres (13 ft) overnight. The reservoir water levels peaked at 160 metres (520 ft) meters on the morning of July 23, whereas the "alarm level" of the reservoir was at 145 metres (476 ft).


2010 China floods, Effects, Hubei Province, Three Gorges Dam
All ferry service in the Reservoir was halted as total flow rate exceeded 45,000 m3/s, although the crest of the flooding passed the dam by July 24. A second peak in the river arrived at the dam on July 28, when the peak flow from the dam was a record 56,000 m3/s.


2010 China floods, Effects, Hubei Province, Three Gorges Dam
By early August, a thick layer of garbage covering 50,000 square metres (540,000 sq ft) and 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) deep, including tree branches, plastic bottles and domestic waste, had been swept into the reservoir since July and threatened to clog the shipping locks at the wall of the dam. Workers removed 3,000 tons of garbage daily, and the company responsible for the dam paid for 150,000 to 200,000 cubic meters (200,000 to 260,000 cubic yards) of garbage to be removed annually.


2010 China floods, Effects, Henan Province
In the city of Luoyang, Henan, a bridge on the Yi River collapsed as onlookers crowded it to watch the flooding, 51 people were killed with 15 missing. Flooding also threatened the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city.


2010 China floods, Effects, Guangdong Province
In Huilai County in Guangdong, 604 millimetres (23.8 in) of rain fell in six hours, the fastest rainfall accumulation recorded there in approximately 50 years. Three deaths occurred in the province with two missing, while 550,000 people were affected and 80,000 relocated.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
Eighty-five people died in Jilin Province, and 71 went missing due to floods. Jilin was one of the worst-hit regions in China due to rain and landslides since July 20. Flooding first started in June, and over 1,000,000 people were evacuated in the province since July, a record for the province, more than four million were affected. Sixty-two thousand houses were destroyed and 193,000 damaged, while direct economic losses reached 45 billion yuan.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
On July 28, several thousand barrels from two chemical plants in Jilin City were washed into the Songhua River by the floods. The barrels contained toxic chemicals like trimethylsilyl chloride and hexamethyldisiloxane, with each barrel holding about 170 kilograms (370 lb). There were reports that some barrels exploded on contact with water. The Dahe Dam in Changshan Township, Huadian City was breached on July 28, spilling 4 million cubic metres (140 million cu ft) of water, destroying five villages downstream and leaving 40 people dead or missing. By late afternoon on August 1, 6,387 barrels had been retrieved from the river. Officials stated that tests showed the water in the river remained safe to drink. Three soldiers of the People's Liberation Army in Jilin drowned after working to remove the barrels and control the flooding.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
In the city of Baishan, near the border with North Korea, an island of garbage covering  15,000 square metres (160,000 sq ft) blocked water flow upstream from the Yunfeng Dam after it became clogged at a bridge. Forty truckloads of garbage were collected, and the remaining garbage could fill 200 more. In Tonghua, 300,000 residents were left without tap water after the flooding damaged major water pipelines that were subsequently repaired by August 4. In addition, 15,702 residents from Liuhe County in Tonghua were evacuated to safer locations by August 5. Unprecedented record levels of flooding hit the Yalu River, where shipping was suspended, and the Tumen River both bordering North Korea, while Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in the province suffered its worst flooding in one hundred years.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
In Linjiang City, also bordering North Korea on the Yalu, three townships were cut off by floods and mudslides, and 38,000 residents were relocated. Between July 31 and August 4, 68,000 residents were without drinking water due to flooding, until it was restored at 5 p.m. on August 4 but the water was not potable until approximately August 7. Fire trucks were mobilized to provide drinking water from nearby springs.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
In Antu County, 70 homes in one village were destroyed by flooding, a mountain valley was submerged by floods 20 metres (66 ft) deep, forcing 570 families to evacuate. Damages from the floods in the county exceeded 800 million yuan, equal to about 5.7 times the county government's revenue in 2009. In central Jilin, 204 millimetres (8.0 in) of rain fell in 24 hours after August 4, while 121 millimetres (4.8 in) fell in a few hours in Lishu on August 5. Seven of the 25 medium and large reservoirs in Jilin City were forced to discharge, including Fengman Reservoir, the largest reservoir on the Songhua, at a rate of 4,500 cubic metres (160,000 cu ft). A 24-hour monitoring system was set up on many reservoirs.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
Workers started repairing fifty-one damaged small reservoirs and fortifying riverbanks in the province after the Songhua River surged to levels twice as high as normal. Premier Wen Jiabao visited Yongji County during the first week of August.


2010 China floods, Effects, Jilin Province
Other areas of Northern and Northeastern China received flooding rains, including Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol, Hebei and Shandong.


2010 China floods, Effects, Liaoning Province
Flooding on the Yalu River in Liaoning affected the city of Dandong in early August. Provincial authorities suspended shipping on the river and more than 40,000 people were evacuated from the city. Heavy rains brought shipping to a halt by August 19, and on August 21 the Yalu breached its banks. About 250,000 people in northeastern China were evacuated, including 94,000 in Dandong, where four people were killed and one missing in Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County. The rain and flooding cut rail services and destroyed more than 200 houses. At least 1,200 people were trapped by flood water.


2010 China floods, Effects, Liaoning Province
Dandong on the Chinese side and Sinuiju on the North Korean side were affected. Much of North Korea's trade with the world depends on Sinuiju, which is a vital lifeline for the country. The river's flow hit a peak of 27,000 m3/s on August 21, flooding 44 townships and causing 158 embankment breaches. Rainfall up to 250 millimetres (9.8 in) in 24 hours was expected on August 23. Water levels at one station in Dandong rose 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) above the warning level, the second-highest measurement since 1934.


2010 China floods, Effects, Liaoning Province
Floods also covered roads and farms in Tieling City, affecting 20,000 people. In Huludao City, ten workers were stranded on an island created by flooding before being rescued, after China National Highway 102 was disrupted by floodwaters. Another series of floods left eight dead and one missing in Dandong by August 27. A developing tropical storm was forecast to bring more heavy rains to the Yalu River region by August 28.


2010 China floods, Effects, Heilongjiang Province
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters warned that flooding and landslides were expected to continue in the Songliao Basin (surrounding the Daqing Field) near the Songhua River in Heilongjiang Province.


2010 China floods, Effects, Yunnan Province
Malong County in Yunnan was hit by torrential rainfall lasting seven hours, completely filling a nearby reservoir, which then submerged the county. Water over roads was as deep as 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) 1.5 metres. The flooding killed one person and injured 165 others, and 55,000 people were affected in the county while 6,000 houses were destroyed.


2010 China floods, Effects, Yunnan Province
In Puladi Township, Gongshan, a landslide in June killed 11 people at a hydropower station construction site. On August 18, another landslide containing 600,000 cubic metres (780,000 cu yd) of mud and rock cut off a town after roads and power lines were severed, killing 29 people and leaving 63 missing, as well as injuring 25 people, 9 of them seriously. Some of the people missing were workers for an iron mine. The chances of survival for the missing people were said to be low as they had been trapped for over three days. The new landslide was about 300 metres (980 ft) wide, and buried 21 houses and 10 trucks. The slide also dammed up parts of the Salween River near the border with Myanmar, causing water levels at its upper reaches to rise 6 metres (20 ft).


2010 China floods, Effects, Qinghai Province
Torrential rains killed 25 people in Qinghai in July and left three more missing, affecting 41,000 people.


2010 China floods, Effects, Qinghai Province
The Wenquan Reservoir in the province, 130 kilometres (81 mi) upstream from Golmud, was overfilled with 230 million cubic metres (300 million cu yd) of water, while it was only designed to hold 70 million cubic metres (92 million cu yd), creating a water level 1.18 metres (1.29 yd) above the warning line.


2010 China floods, Effects, Qinghai Province
Soldiers and rescue workers built drainage channels to pipe the water away from the reservoir, which would have flooded Golmud with water over 4 metres (4.4 yd) deep if its dam burst, and the channels are designed to release 400 cubic metres (520 cu yd) of water per second. More than 11,300 people were evacuated from the city.


2010 China floods, Effects, Hainan Province
Starting from September 30 Hainan Province received the worst flooding in half a century. By October 7 the flood killed one, left three missing, and affected 1.65 million people in 16 cities and counties.


2010 China floods, Effects, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
By August, heavy rains and snow melt in Xinjiang caused water levels in the region's 13 major rivers to rise above danger levels. In Aksu Prefecture, roads were cut off and bridges destroyed, while 1,000 people became trapped in the mountainous areas. On August 1, helicopters rescued 118 of the trapped people and delivered relief goods to the remaining residents.


2010 China floods, Effects, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Floods triggered by torrential rains pounded Akto County on July 6 resulted in 6 deaths and 2 missing. On the morning of August 17, a 540-metre-long (590 yd) bridge spanning the Yarkand River was destroyed by the mountain torrents, incurring a regional block of National Highway 315.


2010 China floods, Effects, Chongqing Municipality
In July, 10 people were killed in Chongqing and two left missing by July 9. The direct economic damages from the floods in the city were 1.09 billion yuan, and 92 flights were delayed due to the floods.


2010 China floods, Relief efforts
The Chinese government helped with flood relief efforts, rescue work and supplies following flooding and landslides in many regions. Donations from Chinese citizens also contributed to relief supplies. On August 31, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Civil Affairs allocated 2.01 billion yuan (295 million USD) to improve relief efforts.


2010 Chinese Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 2010 Chinese Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held from  22 August to 31 August 2010 in Zhuzhou, Hunan. It was also the qualification event for the 2010 Asian Games and 2010 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.


2010 Chinese Athletics Championships
The 2010 Chinese Athletics Championships (Chinese: 全国田径锦标赛圆满 2010) was the year's national outdoor track and field championships for China. It was held from 5–8 August in Jinan. It served as the qualifying meet for China at the 2010 Asian Games. The highlight of the competition was a Chinese national record of 5.75 metres in the men's pole vault by Yang Yansheng.


2010 Chinese Athletics Championships, Racewalking
The Chinese Racewalking Championships were held on 14–16 March in Huangshan.


2010 Chinese Athletics Championships, Half marathon
The Chinese Half Marathon Championships were held on 25 April in Yangzhou.


2010 Chinese Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 Chinese Figure Skating Championships (Chinese: 2009/2010年度全国花样滑冰锦标赛) were held between September 3 and 5, 2009 in Beijing. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix
The 2010 Chinese Grand Prix (officially the 2010 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held at the Shanghai International Circuit in the Jiading District of Shanghai on 18 April 2010. Approximately 85,000 people attended the event. It was the fourth race of the 2010 Formula One World Championship and the seventh Chinese Grand Prix. McLaren driver Jenson Button won the 56-lap race starting from fifth position. His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished in second and Nico Rosberg of the Mercedes team was third.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel qualified on pole position for the eighth time of his career by posting the fastest lap in qualifying. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso started from third and passed both Red Bull cars into the first corner. However, the stewards deemed that he had jumped the start and incurred a drive-through penalty. The safety car was deployed on the first lap, after a three-car collision at turn six, and remained out for four laps. Rosberg led from laps five to 19 until Button overtook him. Intermittent rain made track conditions slippery though Button maintained the lead for the rest of the race to secure his second victory of the season and the ninth of his career.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix
Button's win promoted him to the lead of the Drivers' Championship for the first time in the season from Ferrari driver Felipe Massa. Rosberg moved to second while Alonso dropped to third and tied on points with Hamilton. Vettel fell from joint third to fifth in the standings. The lead of the Constructors' Championship changed from Ferrari to McLaren as Red Bull maintained a hold on third place with 15 races remaining in the season.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
The 2010 Chinese Grand Prix was the fourth of nineteen scheduled races of the 2010 Formula One World Championship and the seventh running of the event. It was held at the 16-turn 5.451 km (3.387 mi) Shanghai International Circuit in the Jiading District of Shanghai on 18 April. Tyre supplier Bridgestone brought four tyre types to the race: the soft "options" and hard "primes" dry compounds and the intermediate and full wet-weather compounds.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
The soft compounds were denoted by a green stripe on their side-walls; the wet compound tyres were identified by a green line at the bottom of their central groove. A total of 12 teams (each representing a different constructor) each entered two drivers for the Grand Prix with one driver entered only for the first free practice session in Paul di Resta.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
Going into the race, Ferrari driver Felipe Massa led the Drivers' Championship with 39 points, two ahead of his teammate Fernando Alonso in second and jointly held the position with the leading Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel, who had won the Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks earlier. Jenson Button of McLaren and Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg were tied for fourth with 35 points. Ferrari led the Constructors' Championship with 76 points and McLaren were a further ten points behind in second. Red Bull stood in third place with 61 points, Mercedes were fourth with 44 points and Renault was fifth with 30 points.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
Button had won the Australian Grand Prix and his teammate Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the previous two races of the season. Despite this, the McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said that the team did not meet its targets but sought to establish themselves at the front of the field, "One of the greatest qualities of this team is its considerable strength in depth. After establishing a strong and solid start to the season, we're confident we'll become an even more formidable contender as we head into China and then the start of the European season."


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
Other teams in the field predicted the team would have an advantage with the MP4-25s F-duct (a device which increases the top speed of a car by stalling the rear wing), though Hamilton said he expected Red Bull and Ferrari to challenge them, while Button stated he was uncertain whether his car would be quick enough in qualifying trim but felt it was fast for the race, "I feel that when I get to Barcelona, I'll have everything that I want to be 100 per cent. Where I am at the moment is already very good, I'm very comfortable with the car and everyone in the team."


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
Two weeks before the race, the governing body of motor racing, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), wrote to all of the teams that any system discovered to make adjustments to the suspension and ride height of a car to achieve an aerodynamic advantage while in parc fermé conditions after the end of qualifying and before the start of a race would be outlawed under Article 34.5 of the F1 Sporting Regulations and Article 3.15 of the Technical Regulations.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
It came after McLaren suggested that Red Bull had used a ride height device on the RB6 at the preceding Malaysian Grand Prix, which the latter outfit denied. The team's engineering director Paddy Lowe stated that they had stopped development on its own suspension system after clarification was confirmed, "We were aware over the last few months of a different approach to it [the suspension system]; an approach which historically we hadn't thought to be the typical interpretation [of the regulations], and we were reacting to that."


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
Several teams made modifications to their cars in preparation for the event. Red Bull installed a small vertical exhaust duct to the rear of the RB6 to stop hot air from hitting the exhaust onto its rear wheels and better direct airflow towards the diffuser's side channel. Mercedes introduced a modified rear wing controlled by pressure sensors to feed airflow through two small openings and the back of its flap.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Background
Ferrari brought a revised aerodynamic package for the F10, which included a new frontal and curved splitter, an altered diffuser, and an extra vane to straighten the flow of air beside the splitter. During the Friday practice sessions, Alonso tested a modified rear wing, which directed air onto its flap and onto the diffuser's leading edge via a curved pipe. The Williams and Renault teams changed the end plates on both of their car's front wings as the latter constructor opted to mount small vortex generators behind the rear-view mirrors to the side of the cockpit.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Practice
Three practice sessions – two on Friday and a third on Saturday – were held before the race on Sunday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions lasted ninety minutes each; the third, one-hour session was held on Saturday morning. In the first practice session, held in hazy and cold weather conditions, Button was fastest with a lap of 1 minute, 36.677 seconds, with his teammate Hamilton third. They were separated by Rosberg in second and Michael Schumacher in the other Mercedes was fourth. Vettel was fifth-fastest, ahead of the Renaults of Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov. Red Bull's Mark Webber, Adrian Sutil for Force India and Massa followed in eighth to tenth. Alonso stopped at the exit of turn six after 54 minutes with a right-hand exhaust bank bay fire that prevented him from recording a lap.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Practice
With ten minutes remaining, the front wheels on Sébastien Buemi's Toro Rosso sheared under braking the turn 14 hairpin due to the right-front upright failing, causing the front-right wheel to break free. The front-left wheel followed suit when its upright section was suddenly forced to bear the entire load of the front. He was pitched into a gravel trap and a barrier at high speed. Although Buemi was unhurt, the FIA race director Charlie Whiting stopped the session for debris clearing and his teammate Jaime Alguersuari was kept in the garage while the team investigated the cause of the incident. Virgin driver Timo Glock's front wing shattered and the Lotus of Jarno Trulli shed its diffuser, both through bottoming out on a bump approaching turn one.


2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Practice
McLaren continued to run strong with Hamilton setting the fastest lap of the day in the second practice session of 1 minute, 35.217 seconds on the soft compound tyres and his teammate Button was third. The Mercedes of Rosberg and Schumacher duplicated their first practice session results in second and fourth. Vettel, Webber, Sutil, Alguersuari, Kubica and Alonso followed in the top ten. During the session, where several drivers pirouetted and ran off the circuit, Buemi was unable to set a lap time because his car was rebuilt by Toro Rosso and Heikki Kovalainen stopped his Lotus at the side of the track towards the conclusion of practice with fading oil pressure.