NW DELHI: The death toll from a landslide that occurred in China’s southwestern Yunnan province on Monday has reached 8, state media reported on Monday, while several others are missing.
“47 villagers were buried in a landslide that occurred in Zhenxiong County of Zhaotong City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province on early Monday,” local authorities said, as per People’s Daily China.
Another two people were hospitalized for injuries to the head and body, the National Health Commission said.
The landslide hit two villages in the southwestern city of Zhaotong at about 5:51 a.m. (2151 GMT), covering houses in brown mountain soil at the foot of a hill, state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
A man, who witnessed the landslide, said that the mountain just collapsed and dozens of people were buried inside. While talking with the state-owned TV station for the neighbouring province of Guizhou, Gu said that four of his relatives were buried under the rubble.
“They were all sleeping in their homes,” he said.
Firefighters were climbing through the rubble searching for survivors in light snow, CCTV reported. It was not clear what had triggered the landslide.
At least around 1000 rescue workers came in the incident, along with nearly 200 rescue vehicles, the report said. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was leading a workgroup to the site to guide rescue works.
Over 500 people have been evacuated from their homes.
Footage posted on social media by a local broadcaster showed emergency workers in orange jumpsuits and helmets picking through piles of collapsed masonry amid towering mountains dusted with snow.
Landslides are common in Yunnan, a remote region of China where steep mountain ranges butt against the Himalayan plateau.
(Inputs from agencies)
“47 villagers were buried in a landslide that occurred in Zhenxiong County of Zhaotong City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province on early Monday,” local authorities said, as per People’s Daily China.
Another two people were hospitalized for injuries to the head and body, the National Health Commission said.
The landslide hit two villages in the southwestern city of Zhaotong at about 5:51 a.m. (2151 GMT), covering houses in brown mountain soil at the foot of a hill, state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) reported.
A man, who witnessed the landslide, said that the mountain just collapsed and dozens of people were buried inside. While talking with the state-owned TV station for the neighbouring province of Guizhou, Gu said that four of his relatives were buried under the rubble.
“They were all sleeping in their homes,” he said.
Firefighters were climbing through the rubble searching for survivors in light snow, CCTV reported. It was not clear what had triggered the landslide.
At least around 1000 rescue workers came in the incident, along with nearly 200 rescue vehicles, the report said. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was leading a workgroup to the site to guide rescue works.
Over 500 people have been evacuated from their homes.
Footage posted on social media by a local broadcaster showed emergency workers in orange jumpsuits and helmets picking through piles of collapsed masonry amid towering mountains dusted with snow.
Landslides are common in Yunnan, a remote region of China where steep mountain ranges butt against the Himalayan plateau.
(Inputs from agencies)