Southwest China Landslide: 34 Dead, 10 Missing, Toll Rises

On Wednesday, the number of fatalities from a landslide in a remote mountain area in southwestern China increased to 34, with 10 individuals still unaccounted for, according to reports from Chinese state media.

The calamity occurred in the early hours of Monday in the Liangshui village, situated in Yunnan province’s northeastern region. Despite challenging conditions including freezing temperatures and snowfall, search and rescue efforts were ongoing.

Over 1,000 rescue personnel were at the scene, utilizing equipment such as excavators, drones, and dogs trained for search and rescue, as reported by the Ministry of Emergency Management on Tuesday. Two individuals were rescued on Monday and were receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

State-run Xinhua news agency, referencing an initial analysis by local authorities, reported that the landslide was caused by the breakdown of a high, steep cliff. The landslide’s debris was approximately 100 meters (330 feet) wide, 60 meters (200 feet) tall, and had an average depth of 6 meters (20 feet). The cause of the cliff’s initial collapse was not detailed further.

Aerial images released by Xinhua depicted part of a terraced mountain collapsing over several houses in the village, leading to the relocation of over 900 villagers.

Zhenxiong county, about 2,250 kilometers (1,400 miles) southwest of Beijing, is characterized by its high altitude, reaching up to 2,400 meters (7,900 feet). Rescuers faced difficulties due to snowy and icy conditions, with forecasts predicting these harsh weather conditions to continue.

China has recently experienced severe snowstorms, resulting in disrupted transportation and posing risks to lives. Last week, rescuers evacuated tourists from a remote skiing region in northwestern China following numerous avalanches caused by heavy snowfall. The avalanches, which trapped over 1,000 people, blocked roads, isolating both tourists and locals in a village in Altay prefecture, Xinjiang, near the borders with Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck a remote area in Xinjiang on Tuesday, claiming at least three lives and causing significant damage amid freezing temperatures. The sparse population in the area was a contributing factor to the relatively low death toll from the intense earthquake.

In total, natural disasters in China led to 691 deaths and disappearances last year, resulting in direct economic losses estimated at about 345 billion yuan ($48 billion). The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management reported these figures. Additionally, the Ministry of Natural Resources has activated emergency responses for geological disasters and dispatched expert teams to the affected site.