Three Gorges Dam not affected by quakes

The Three Gorges hydropower project was operating normally after a 4.7-magnitude earthquake hit the area early on Sunday, following a first tremor that jolted the same place on Thursday.

The epicenter of Sunday's tremor at 12:24am in Zigui County of Hubei province is some 23 km from the Three Gorges Dam, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The quake was felt strongly in Zigui, Bashan and Xingshan counties. The operation of the Three Gorges Dam project was not affected, said a statement of China Three Gorges Corporation, which administers the project.

The water level and the navigation of ships in the Three Gorges reservoir were normal with no reports of any large landslides, the statement added.

Authorities in Zigui are checking whether there were any casualties or property losses.

A 4.3-magnitude quake hit Zigui County at about 12:20am on Thursday. The quake was felt in the dam area but did not affect the project.

The Three Gorges project is a multi-functional water control system, consisting of a 2,309-meter-long and 185-meter-high dam, a five-tier ship lock, and 26 hydropower turbo-generators.

The project generates electricity, controls floods by storing excess water and helps to regulate the river's shipping capacity.