At least two individuals have lost their lives, and dozens remain unaccounted for following a landslide in China’s southwestern province of Yunnan.
The incident occurred at 05:51 local time on Monday in Zhaotong city, trapping 47 individuals.
President Xi Jinping has issued a directive for a comprehensive rescue operation in the region, where temperatures have plunged below freezing.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that two lifeless bodies have been recovered from the debris.
A resident from Liangshui village described the landslide occurring while the community was asleep, likening the experience to a significant earthquake.
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Videos circulating on social media depict rescuers navigating through piles of rubble set against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, revealing personal belongings scattered amid the collapsed structures.
While the cause of the landslide remains unclear, the mountainous area’s remote location makes it susceptible to such incidents. The region is also known for frequent floods and hosts numerous coal mines.
A villager mentioned to News China that most residents in the affected area were elderly and children.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing is leading a workgroup to oversee and guide the ongoing rescue efforts.
This unfortunate event brings back memories of a similar tragedy in January 2013 when at least 18 people lost their lives in a landslide in the same Zhenxiong county.