On May 12, 2008, a cataclysmic earthquake struck the Sichuan Province of China, resulting in 70,000 deaths, 370,000 injuries, 18,000 still missing, and over five million displaced. Thousands of buildings collapsed or experienced significant damage. Monetary losses have reached USD$146 billion; 4% of China’s 2007 gross domestic product. The earthquake was followed by 118 aftershocks in two weeks.
Immediately following the earthquake, Miyamoto International and Global Risk Miyamoto dispatched a team of engineers to China to assess the structural integrity of existing buildings and infrastructure, provide support to clients, collect data, and document lessons learned. The team was the first foreign engineers to investigate the site. This report contains detailed descriptions of findings, identifies lessons learned, and provides solutions to mitigate future losses.