The death toll from a landslide in southwestern China earlier this month has risen to 51, and 10 people are still missing, authorities have said.
The landslide, which occurred on July 17 in Chongqing’s Pengshui County, swept away several residential buildings at the foot of a mountain and along a riverbank.
Photos showed a huge pile of rocks and earth that had collapsed into a residential and commercial street, with rescue workers deployed to the scene.
Pengshui officials said on social media: “Currently 51 people have been found and confirmed dead, and 10 people are still missing. In this disaster, a total of over 1100 people were safely evacuated.
A huge search-and-recovery operation has been underway since the disaster, involving more than 1080 rescue personnel, the officials said.
Rescuers faced serious challenges during the operation, including massive boulders, elevation changes, tight spaces and high temperatures.
Underwater divers and robots also scoured the nearby river, while boulders were blasted away and more than 330,000cu m of material was excavated.
Rescuers had previously warned last week that there were no longer any signs of life in the area.
Authorities added: “Efforts to support and comfort victims’ families, provide assistance and relief and handle resettlement and post-disaster arrangements are progressing in an orderly manner.”
The disaster occurred less than two weeks after another landslide in northwestern Gansu province buried 33 people and left 21 dead.
- AFP