The southwestern province of Yunnan in China is grappling with the aftermath of a landslide that has resulted in a death toll of at least two people, leaving dozens unaccounted for.
At precisely 05:51 local time on Monday, Zhaotong city experienced a harrowing landslide that trapped 47 people in its destructive path.
Faced with sub-zero temperatures, President Xi Jinping has mandated a comprehensive rescue operation in the affected area, leaving no resource untapped.
CCTV, the state broadcaster, has informed that two bodies, labeled as “unresponsive,” have been retrieved from the rubble by rescue teams.
A resident of Liangshui village told Jimu News that the landslide happened while they were sleeping.
‘It was very loud, and there was also a shake, it felt like a big earthquake,’ she said.
Rescuers navigating piles of rubble against a scenic background of snow-covered mountains are featured in video clips shared on social media, revealing scattered personal belongings amidst the collapsed masonry.
While the cause of the landslide remains shrouded in uncertainty, the remote mountainous locale’s vulnerability, dictated by its geographical positioning, is a contributing factor. Moreover, floods are a prevalent occurrence.
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According to News China, another villager stated that the majority of residents in the area were elderly and children.
Furthermore, the area is home to a substantial number of coal mines.To oversee rescue operations, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing is spearheading a workgroup en route to the site.
The residents of Zhenxiong county faced a heartbreaking event in January 2013 when a landslide took the lives of at least 18 people.