Beijing, Feb 09 (V7N) – More than 30 people are missing after a landslide struck Xining Village in Yibin County, located in southwest China's Sichuan Province, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The disaster occurred Saturday morning local time, burying 10 houses under tons of debris.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management confirmed that two people have been rescued so far, and 200 residents have been evacuated from the affected area. Rescue teams, comprising hundreds of workers, are actively searching for the missing, with operations complicated by ongoing instability in the region.

A command center has been established at the site by the local emergency management bureau to coordinate the rescue efforts. In response to the tragedy, President Xi Jinping has ordered all-out efforts to locate and rescue the missing individuals. He emphasized the need for measures to minimize casualties and ensure the well-being of affected families, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into geological hazards in surrounding areas, amid reports that rockfalls had been observed in recent months. Local officials are now assessing the risk of further landslides in the region.

The central government has allocated 50 million yuan (approximately $6.9 million or £5.5 million) to support the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and restoration of public services in the affected area.

Sichuan Province and other mountainous regions in southwestern China are particularly prone to landslides due to geological factors and heavy seasonal rainfall. In January 2024, a massive landslide in Yunnan Province claimed at least 30 lives, while a similar incident in 2013 resulted in 18 deaths in the same region.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities urging residents in nearby areas to remain vigilant as they monitor for further geological activity.

END/RH/AJ