BEIJING — Rescuers in southwestern Sichuan province are currently searching for at least 29 missing individuals following a landslide that took place on Saturday, which buried ten homes and necessitated the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched hundreds of rescue personnel, including firefighters, to the village in Junlian county where the landslide occurred. Reports indicate that two individuals were retrieved alive but with injuries, and around 200 residents were relocated to safety, as stated by state broadcaster CCTV. Additionally, a manufacturing facility was also engulfed by the landslide.
Officials have attributed this disaster to recent heavy rainfall coupled with specific geological conditions. During a press briefing on Sunday, authorities explained that these factors contributed to transforming a landslide into a debris flow, resulting in an extensive accumulation of debris measuring approximately 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) in length, with an estimated total volume exceeding 100,000 cubic meters (3.5 million cubic feet). The total number of individuals reported missing is still being confirmed.
A local villager shared with BeijingNews that rocks have been frequently observed tumbling down the mountainside since the latter half of 2024, occasionally producing sounds reminiscent of firecrackers. The villager noted that geologists had examined the area late last year, according to the state-run newspaper.
President Xi Jinping has conveyed his concerns regarding the situation and directed authorities to do everything in their power to locate the missing persons and minimize further casualties, as reported by the official Xinhua news agency. In addition, Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for an investigation into potential geological hazards in surrounding areas, emphasizing the need to evacuate residents who may be in danger to avert additional disasters, according to Xinhua.
China has allocated 80 million yuan (approximately $11 million) to aid in disaster relief and recovery initiatives.
Landslides, frequently triggered by heavy rainfall or unsafe construction practices, are a common occurrence in China. For instance, a landslide in a remote mountainous region of Yunnan province last year resulted in multiple fatalities.
