The Zhouqu landslides could not have been caused by hydroelectric projects or reservoirs because there are none in the area, says Li Zhiheng, director of the Emergency Center for Geological Disaster in Gansu Province.

Li made his comment Thursday in response to earlier foreign reports which held hydro-electric power plants responsible for the disaster that has left 1,144 dead in the remote county in the northwestern province. 600 people are still missing.

A total of seven dams had been built to combat potential mudslides and three of them had been breached in the disaster, said Li.

Zhang Guohua, deputy director-general at Gansu province's Department of Land Resources said the experts' view was that the Zhouqu landslides were a result of the area's unique geological structure, the aftershock of the Wenchuan earthquake and rainstorms following a period of drought.

Overnight downpours on Wednesday triggered new floods and mudslides in Zhouqu in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, leaving three people missing.

Floods also have left eight people dead and eight others missing in two counties in Gannan's neighboring city of Longnan.

(CRIENGLISH.com August 13, 2010)