Over 40 People Buried in Landslide in Yunnan Province, China
The residents of the village were caught unaware in their sleep: Over 40 people have been buried in a landslide in the Yunnan Province of southwestern China. Hundreds of rescue workers are on the scene.
Over 40 people have been buried in a landslide in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. According to Chinese state media, authorities currently estimate 47 people as missing. So far, rescuers have recovered at least eight bodies from the debris. The total number of fatalities in the incident remains unclear. Two people have been rescued alive so far.
Xu Chong from the Institute of Disaster Prevention said on television that there is little chance of survival for those buried. The risk of landslides is well-known in the area, and additional landslides are possible. The official mentioned rain and snowfall, melting ice, or changes in groundwater as possible causes of the landslide.
Approximately 500 people were evacuated
The landslide struck the village of Liangshui early in the morning, where a few thousand people live. According to the Associated Press, 500 people were evacuated from the area.
State television showed images of devastation caused by the landslide as it tore through the mountain slope. A reporter confirmed via phone call that the incident occurred while it was still dark. The buried houses were all built on a steep slope.
Hundreds of rescuers search for the missing
According to reports, the disaster relief and firefighting teams arrived with dozens of vehicles and hundreds of workers. The People’s Daily reported that soldiers were also dispatched to the Zhenxiong County, located in northeastern Yunnan and bordering the provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou. Wang Xiangxi, Minister of Emergency Management, traveled to the area to oversee the ongoing rescue operations, according to his ministry.
An eyewitness told the Associated Press, “I was sleeping, but my brother knocked on my door and woke me up.” The woman, along with her husband and three children, was accommodated by local authorities in a school. They have been provided with food but are waiting for blankets and other protection against the low temperatures.
President Xi Jinping vows to strengthen early warning system
The cause of the landslide is currently unknown. On Monday, the temperature at the site of the incident was around freezing point. It had snowed the night before. Xinhua reported that the local government had initiated additional relief measures.
From Beijing, China’s President and Party leader, Xi Jinping, called for prompt organization of rescue forces to assist the missing individuals with all available resources. He also demanded the strengthening of early warning systems to prevent further disasters.