Emergency teams in China's southwestern Sichuan province are working tirelessly to locate 28 missing individuals following a devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains. The incident, which occurred in the village of Jinping in Junlian county on Saturday, resulted in the tragic loss of one life and the burial of several homes.
Approximately 1,000 personnel have been deployed to the area to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. Using drones and life-detection radars, officers are combing through the debris of collapsed buildings in a race against time to find any signs of life. Local residents familiar with the area are also aiding in the search operation.
So far, two injured individuals have been rescued, and around 360 others have been evacuated from the affected area. The landslide, which transformed into a debris flow spanning over 1.2 kilometers and with a volume exceeding 100,000 cubic meters, has posed significant challenges to the ongoing rescue mission.
Despite facing continuous rainfall and the threat of additional landslides, rescue teams are working diligently to locate the missing individuals. The collapsed area, estimated to be about the size of 16 football pitches, has caused widespread destruction, with many houses carried away by the debris flow.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong visited the site to oversee the operation and offer support to the affected residents. He emphasized the importance of conducting a scientific assessment to ensure the safety of the ongoing rescue efforts and to prevent future disasters.
China has allocated 80 million yuan (approximately $11 million) to aid in disaster relief and recovery operations. Landslides, often triggered by heavy rainfall or unsafe construction practices, are unfortunately not uncommon in China. Last year, a similar incident in Yunnan province claimed the lives of dozens of people.
