At least one was killed and 28 people were found missing after a landslide in south-western China. The landslide that hit Jinping village in Sichuan province at 11:50 on Saturday (03:50 GMT) buried 10 houses, trapping several residents. However, two people were rescued, BBC cited Chinese state media reports.
According to a statement by the county’s emergency management bureau, a command center has been set up at the scene. The President of China, Xi Jinping, also directed an “all-out” rescue of those trapped.
The Ministry of Emergency Management of China highlighted that 100 emergency workers are searching for survivors, and so far around 200 people have been rescued.
Villagers Find Large Rocks Frequently Tumbling Down Mountain
The official Xinhua state news agency indicated that President Xi has emphasised the officials to put their all efforts into for searching and rescuing the missing people and minimise casualties with proper handling of the aftermath.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for an investigation into possible geological hazards in the surrounding areas. As per local media reports, villagers have observed large rocks frequently tumbling down the mountain over the past six months.
Li Qiang also emphasised the need to evacuate residents at risk to prevent further disasters, according to the AP news agency, citing Xinhua. In addition, the central government has allocated 50 million yuan ($6.9 million; £5.5 million) for infrastructure repairs and public services, According to a report by AP.
The remote, mountainous regions of southwestern China are susceptible to landslides.
In January 2024, a devastating landslide in Yunnan province claimed dozens of lives after a steep cliff collapsed, destroying part of a village. A similar tragedy took place 11 years ago in the same region, where at least 18 people lost their lives in another landslide.
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