On Saturday, a massive landslide hit China’s southwestern Sichuan province in which at least 29 people are missing. Rescue operations are under way as after the landslides buried 10 houses.
The disaster, triggered by heavy rainfall and geological instability, struck a village in Junlian County, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents. China’s ministry of emergency management has deployed hundreds of rescuers, including firefighters, to search for survivors.
Two individuals have been pulled out alive with injuries, while about 200 residents have been relocated for safety. A manufacturing facility was also buried under debris.
Authorities said the landslide transformed into a fast-moving debris flow, creating an accumulation spanning approximately 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) with a total volume exceeding 100,000 cubic meters (3.5 million cubic feet).
Officials are still working to verify the exact number of missing individuals. A villager described rockfalls had been occurring since mid-2024, sometimes making sounds “similar to firecrackers.”
Geologists had inspected the area late last year, but concerns remainedChinese President Xi Jinping has called for an all-out effort to find the missing and “minimize casualties,” as reported by Xinhua.
Meanwhile, Premier Li Qiang has urged local officials to investigate geological hazards in surrounding areas and evacuate any residents at risk to prevent further disasters.
