One dead, dozens missing in China landslide
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The site of a landslide in Jinping village in south-west China's Sichuan province on Feb 8.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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SHANGHAI - A landslide in China’s south-western Sichuan province triggered by heavy rain has killed at least one person, with nearly 30 more missing, state media reported on Feb 9.
China has been hit with extreme weather in recent months, with dozens of people killed in floods in 2024, its warmest year on record.
Scientists say climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent.
The Feb 8 landslide hit Jinping village in the city of Yibin at around 11.50am local time.
As at Feb 9 morning, “one person has been killed and 28 people are missing”, state news agency Xinhua said.
Two people were saved on Feb 8 and more than 900 rescuers are attempting to find the rest of the missing people, Xinhua said.
Video footage published by state broadcaster CCTV earlier on Feb 9 showed rescuers with flashlights searching through debris in the dark.
“A preliminary study shows this disaster occurred due to the influence of recent prolonged rainfall and geological factors,” CCTV said, citing the local authorities.
China’s President Xi Jinping on Feb 8 ordered the authorities to do “everything possible to search for and rescue missing people, minimise casualties, and properly handle the aftermath”. AFP
