Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued an urgent directive for a comprehensive search and rescue operation to locate those still missing after a landslide hit Zhenxiong county in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. As of the latest reports, eight missing individuals have been found dead.
Xi, who also serves as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, issued the order in response to the landslide that occurred on Monday. The president emphasized the need for swift rescue efforts to minimize casualties and stressed the importance of enhanced monitoring and a scientific approach to avoid secondary disasters. Additionally, Xi called for measures to provide comfort to the victims’ families and facilitate the resettlement of those affected.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management promptly allocated 50 million yuan ($6.95 million) from central natural disaster relief funds to support local relief efforts.
According to authorities, a preliminary investigation revealed that a total of 47 people from 18 families were buried in the landslide that struck Liangshui village in Zhenxiong county. Villagers who managed to escape gathered on the roadside, and others from neighboring areas traveled to assist, providing warmth and aid.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management activated a level-III emergency response for geological disasters, while the office of the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction, and relief initiated a level-IV emergency response in the aftermath of the landslide.
The region experienced heavy snowfall on Sunday night, with ongoing snowfall on Monday morning. Evacuation efforts have led to more than 200 residents being urgently relocated. Search and rescue operations, involving 33 machines and personnel from national fire rescue forces and safety production professional rescue teams, are currently underway. The National Health Commission has also mobilized emergency medical rescue teams and experts from neighboring provinces to provide support as needed.
Despite the challenging conditions, including icy roads due to heavy snowfall, local officials have coordinated their efforts to carry out tasks such as casualty investigation, search and rescue operations, relocation of affected populations, and prevention of secondary disasters.