- Landslide strikes Jinping village in Sichuan province, burying 10 houses and a factory.
- One fatality confirmed, 28 people remain missing.
- Nearly 1,000 emergency personnel deployed for search and rescue operations.
- President Xi Jinping orders an “all-out” rescue effort.
- Heavy rainfall and geological factors identified as probable causes.
A devastating landslide struck Jinping village in Junlian County, Sichuan province, at approximately 11:50 a.m. local time on Saturday. The disaster buried at least ten houses and a factory, leaving one person dead and 28 others missing. Two individuals were successfully rescued, while around 360 residents have been evacuated from the area.
Authorities have launched large-scale rescue efforts to locate the missing, as concerns grow over unstable terrain and the risk of additional landslides.
Massive Rescue Operations Underway
Nearly 1,000 emergency personnel, including firefighters, armed police, and medical teams, rushed to the disaster site. Rescuers are using advanced technology like drones and life-detection radars to find survivors trapped under the debris.
Footage from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV shows teams searching the rubble with flashlights at night. Emergency workers are also making sure displaced residents get proper shelter and medical care as quickly as possible.
After the disaster, President Xi Jinping ordered an “all-out” rescue operation. He stressed the need to reduce casualties, support affected families, and relocate people at risk of future landslides.
Vice Premier Liu Guozhong visited the region to oversee relief efforts. Meanwhile, the central government allocated 80 million yuan (about $11 million) to fund rescue and recovery operations.
Landslide Triggers Alarm in Southwestern China
Preliminary assessments suggest heavy rainfall caused the landslide. The continuous downpours weakened the mountainside and loosened the soil. Local villagers had noticed large rocks rolling down the slopes for months, raising alarms about potential instability in the area.
The landslide sent an estimated 100,000 cubic meters of debris down the mountainside. It covered 1.2 kilometers, destroying homes and infrastructure along the way. Experts are concerned that more rainfall could cause further instability, worsening the situation.
Southwestern China, especially Sichuan province, faces frequent landslides due to its mountainous terrain and heavy rain. A similar disaster in Yunnan province in January 2024 claimed several lives when a steep cliff collapsed. In 2013, a Sichuan landslide killed 18 people, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to such disasters.
Future Measures and Government Action
In response to this latest catastrophe, Premier Li Qiang has called for an urgent investigation into geological hazards in surrounding areas. Officials are conducting risk assessments to determine whether additional villages should be evacuated to prevent further casualties.
With rescue operations still ongoing, authorities remain focused on finding the missing and stabilizing the disaster zone. The coming days will be critical in determining the full scale of the tragedy and the success of relief efforts.
The Sichuan landslide has once again highlighted the dangers faced by communities in mountainous regions of China. As rescue teams continue their efforts, the government is ramping up measures to prevent future disasters. Meanwhile, families of the missing anxiously await updates, hoping for positive news amid the destruction.