22-1-2024 (BEIJING) A devastating landslide struck a remote area in Zhenxiong County, Yunnan province, South-Western China, on Monday (Jan 22), burying 47 people, as reported by state media. The landslide occurred at 5.51 am local time, with approximately 18 households affected and over 200 people urgently evacuated from the region, according to state news agency Xinhua and state broadcaster CCTV.
An emergency response has been initiated, involving more than 200 rescue workers, numerous fire engines, and additional equipment. Footage shared on social media showed emergency workers in orange jumpsuits and helmets facing the challenging conditions, with snowflakes whirling through the air. Rescuers were seen meticulously sifting through piles of collapsed masonry, revealing a few personal belongings amid the debris.
While authorities did not immediately confirm casualties, landslides are unfortunately common in Yunnan, an often impoverished region where steep mountain ranges meet the Himalayan plateau. The disaster unfolded in a rural area surrounded by snow-dusted towering peaks, as depicted in state media footage.
With temperatures hovering around minus four degrees Celsius in Zhenxiong on Monday morning, the adverse weather added complexity to the rescue efforts. The cause of the landslide remains unknown, and investigations are underway.
An unknown number of villagers were buried in a landslide in China’s Yunnan early Monday. Search and rescue for the missing is underway. #China pic.twitter.com/QkrTkKwViY
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 22, 2024
China has witnessed a series of natural disasters in recent months, often following extreme weather events. In September, rainstorms in Guangxi led to a mountain landslide claiming at least seven lives. Similarly, heavy rains triggered a disaster near Xi’an in August, resulting in more than 20 fatalities. In June, a landslide in remote and mountainous Sichuan province claimed the lives of 19 people.
