World / Natural Disasters

China: At least 47 buried after landslide in Yunnan - state media

18:15 pm on 22 January 2024

By Fan Wang, BBC News

Rescuers working at the site of a landslide in Liangshui Village, Tangfang town in the city of Zhaotong, southwest China's Yunnan province on 22 January, 2024. Photo: Hu Chao / Xinhua / Xinhua via AFP

At least 47 people have been buried in a landslide on Monday morning (local time) in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, according to state media.

Rescue efforts are under way in sub-zero temperatures in Zhaotong city. It is unclear yet if anyone has died.

Videos from local media showed rescuers working among collapsed homes and buildings.

More than 500 people have also been evacuated from the region after the incident, according to People's Daily.

The incident took place at 5.51am local time (21:51 GMT). State broadcaster CCTV said that some households are among those trapped under the rubble.

Authorities are looking into the cause of the landslide.

Landslides are common in the remote region, which is surrounded by mountain ranges.

In January 2013, at least 18 people were killed in Zhenxiong county, which is located in Zhaotong, after a landslide.

- This story was first published by the BBC.