Some geohazards associated with the 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008

The May 12, 2008 Great Wenchuan Earthquake has resulted in more than 69,227 deaths, 17,923 people are listed as missing, and 374,643 were injured (up to September 22, 2008). Along the Central Longmenshan fault, which generated this great earthquake, the earthquake intensity (also called macrointensity) at the towns of Yingxiu and Beichuan County (Qushan Town) is XI on Chinese Intensity Scale (similar to the MMI scale). The author of this paper made two separate excursions to the affected areas in Sichuan in May and in July and August. In this paper, some earthquake-induced geohazards will be summarized, including the huge Niu-juan Gully rock avalanche at the epicenter, the Wangjiayan landslide and Jingjiashan rock avalanche at Qushan Town, the surface ruptures at Bailu, and Xiaoyudong. Discussions will be made on the geohazard-associated fatality and damages. The paper concludes with lessons learnt from these earthquake-induced-geohazards, including proper site-assessment before town planning.