This post is part of a series called 2008 Sichuan Earthquake Journals Sichuan, China – May 20, 2008 2:00 am The front desk calls to tell me that the government has just issued an earthquake warning and everyone must move into the large hotel lobby. Her voice is shaking. I tell her that earthquake forecasting is highly inaccurate so she should not worry about it. Also, the hotel is 100 km from the epicenter and it has been already field tested by the M 7.9 event. I don’t think she believes me since she keeps knocking on my door and…

This post is part of a series called 2008 Sichuan Earthquake Journals SICHUAN, China–We are heading north toward Mianzhu; which is 10 km east of the fault. At this distance, we expect to see significant damage. Our first stop is a substation where we saw wall damage. This substation is located about 10 km south of Mianzhu. The damage was limited to water tank pipe breaks and some equipment that toppled over.It’s 12:25 a.m. We are driving through a beautiful country road… rice fields, water buffaloes, tobacco leaves, and traditionally pictured farm houses… Then, a couple of damaged stacks.…

This post is part of a series called 2008 Sichuan Earthquake Journals SICHUAN, China–Following the May 12, 2008 M8 Sichuan Earthquake, Miyamoto International and Global Risk Miyamoto immediately dispatched a team to the affected region. Our reconnaissance team was composed of Chris Heaton, Global Risk Miyamoto, Rocky Ng, engineer from China Rail Way, Tenth Group, Third Engineering Company, and the author, Kit Miyamoto of Miyamoto International and Global Risk Miyamoto. At 10:30 a.m. My team and I are joined by a TV news crew from NHK (Japanese Broadcast Corporation) who worked with us and reported on our observations of the…