Rescue Teams Race Against Time to Find 28 Missing After Landslide in Southwest China

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Emergency teams in China's southwestern Sichuan province are engaged in a desperate search for 28 people missing after heavy rainfall triggered a devastating landslide. The landslide, which occurred in Jinping Village, Junlian County, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, buried several homes and left one person confirmed dead.

The landslide, which extended about 1.2 kilometers, displaced approximately 100,000 cubic meters of earth and debris. At least 10 homes and a manufacturing building were completely buried by the earth, triggering an urgent response from local and national authorities.

As of Sunday, nearly 1,000 personnel—including armed police, firefighters, and medical professionals—are scouring the debris for signs of life. Rescuers are using drones, life-detection radars, and the assistance of local officials familiar with the area to navigate through the remains of collapsed buildings. To date, two injured individuals have been rescued, and around 360 people have been safely evacuated from the affected area.

At a press conference on Sunday, authorities revealed that preliminary assessments attribute the landslide to recent heavy rainfall combined with local geological conditions. This devastating event highlights the risks posed by such factors in the region, which has experienced similar disasters in the past.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong visited the site to oversee the rescue operations and met with affected residents. He urged officials to continue their search for the missing individuals and emphasized the importance of ensuring safety during the ongoing rescue efforts. Liu also pointed out that surrounding slopes still posed significant collapse risks and called for thorough scientific assessments to prevent further disasters.

In response to the tragedy, China has allocated $11.2 million USD to support disaster relief and recovery operations. The government has committed to providing resources for affected communities and ensuring the safety of ongoing operations.

Landslides are a recurring risk in China, often triggered by heavy rain or unsafe construction practices. In 2024, a similar disaster in the remote, mountainous areas of Yunnan province claimed dozens of lives, underscoring the vulnerability of regions prone to such natural calamities.

As the search continues, rescue teams remain hopeful that more survivors will be found in the coming days. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but efforts are underway to provide aid to the affected families and restore stability to the region.