One person is dead and 28 more are missing after a landslide in China’s southwestern Sichuan province on Saturday.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Landslides are not rare in China. Dozens of people were killed in a landslide last year in the southwestern province of Yunnan.
Saturday’s landslide prompted emergency crews to comb through the rubble of collapsed buildings using drones and life-detection radars on Sunday to locate any possible survivors, according to Chinese-state broadcaster CCTV.
What Happened
The landslide—triggered by recent heavy rainfall and geological conditions, according to Chinese authorities—occurred on Saturday in the village of Jinping in Junlian County.
Debris accumulation spread roughly 0.7 miles and had a total volume of over 3.5 million cubic feet.
Roughly 360 people were evacuated from the area after 10 houses and a manufacturing building were buried by the landslide, CCTV reported.
Hundreds of rescuers, including firefighters, have been deployed to the area. Continuous rainfall and additional landslides made the rescue operation more difficult. Two people have been rescued so far, and they were injured, according to CCTV.
Zeng Li/Xinhua via AP
What Is a Landslide?
A landslide occurs when earth materials such as rocks, debris and soil, move downslope, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). They can happen slowly, moving only inches per year, or very fast, moving tens of miles per hour.
Landslides can happen without notice and occur for days, weeks or even longer, the USGS said. Like Saturday’s landslide, the downslope movement can bury homes and damage infrastructure. Landslides can also obstruct or damage roads and disrupt utilities and communication lines.
What People Are Saying
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed concern for the disaster and called on authorities to do whatever possible to search for those who are missing and lessen casualties, according to the Chinese official news agency Xinhua.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, who was at the site of the landslide to guide the rescue operation and visit affected residents, said that nearby slopes could still collapse, according to Xinhua.
He called for a scientific assessment of the surrounding area for the safety of the rescue operation and prevention of another landslide, Xinhua reported.
A local resident told the Chinese state-run newspaper Beijing News that rocks were often seen rolling down the mountain since the latter half of 2024. Geologists inspected the area late last year, according to the resident.
What Happens Next
China has allocated roughly $11 million for disaster relief and recovery efforts.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
