China Landslide Update: Death Toll Climbs To 25; 19 Still Unaccounted As Homes Were Buried

(Photo : Getty Images/CNS/AFP)

The number of fatalities in the deadly landslide in China has climbed to 25.

As victims are believed to be trapped in rubble, at least 19 individuals are still unaccounted for.

Rescuers Battling Over Time

Rescue teams are chasing time to locate the victims amid the freezing temperature and icy weather conditions.

So far, officials have mobilized more than 1,000 rescue workers and 45 rescue dogs for the search and rescue mission following the landslide that took place in the mountain village of Liangshui, Yunnan province, shortly before dawn on Monday.

Most residents were asleep when the landslide hit the area. Due to this, at least 18 homes were buried and more than 500 individuals have also been forced to evacuation.

Officials said that a broad slope of dark mud has been unleashed towards the mountain terraces, prompting village roofs to be covered in snow.

Due to this, dozens of fire engines and pieces of earth-moving equipment have been deployed to assist in the rescue mission.

Wearing their orange jumpsuits, firefighters were seen climbing through the gray rubble of destroyed homes to search for survivors as they battle against the backdrop of steep mountain ridges that were powdered with snow.

Citing a preliminary investigation by local experts, officials said that the landslide was triggered by the collapse of a steep clifftop area.

The incident had a collapsed mass measuring around 100 meters (330 feet) wide, 60 meters (200 feet) in height, and an average of 6 meters (20 feet) in thickness.

Authorities, however, did not elaborate about what caused the initial collapse.

There have been photos showing the side of a heavily terraced mountain, which had spilled over several village homes. Due to the condition, more than 900 villagers were relocated.

Officials said that the Zhenxiong county lies about 2,250 kilometres (1,400 miles) southwest of Beijing, with altitudes ranging as high as 2,400 meters (7,900 feet).

China Not New To Landslides

Landslides are not uncommon in China. The country has already suffered more fatalities and property loss from landslides than any other nation.

Authorities said that the recorded history of landslide hazards goes back nearly 4,000 years to 1789 B.C. Minimum data of historical famous landslide events are briefly mentioned.

Officials said that the total deaths due to landslides exceeds 250,000 during the period from 186 B.C. to A.D. 1987.

These landslides have caused at least US $0.5 billion in economic losses and 140-150 deaths each year for the period from 1951 to 1987.

So far, great efforts have been made in China to reduce landslide hazards and recent progress has been discussed by concerned agencies.

Last year, at least 70 people were killed in landslides, including more than 50 at an open-pit mine in the Inner Mongolia region.

In total, natural disasters in China left 691 people dead and missing last year, causing direct economic losses of about 345 billion yuan or $48 billion, according to the National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources implemented emergency response measures for geological disasters and sent a work team of experts to the site of these landslides.