A massive landslide in southwestern China’s Sichuan province has left over 30 people missing, prompting a high-level emergency operation. The incident occurred on Saturday when 10 houses were buried under the rubble.
Rescuers, including firefighters, have been deployed to the area. State broadcaster CCTV reported that two people were pulled out from under the rubble, bringing some hope to the search efforts.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for an investigation into the cause of the landslide and potential geological hazard risks in nearby areas. He also urged authorities to evacuate residents under threat to prevent another disaster.
President Xi Jinping has also expressed concern over the incident, urging authorities to make every possible effort to locate the missing people and minimize casualties.
The government has allocated 50 million yuan ($6.9 million) from the central budget to support the emergency restoration of infrastructure and public service facilities. The allocation is part of the ongoing efforts to address geological hazards in China.
This incident comes after a series of recent seismic activity, including a 5.5 magnitude earthquake in Qinghai province last month. A deadly 6.8 magnitude quake also struck Tibet earlier this week, while a smaller 3.1 magnitude quake occurred in Sichuan.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-high-level-rescue-op-massive-landslide-sichuan-leaves-30-missing-xi-jinping-orders-101739013411958.html