14 Dead, 5 Missing as Deadly Landslide Strikes Sichuan, China

Beijing: A tragic incident occurred in southwestern China’s Sichuan province, where a devastating landslide took place at a state-owned forestry station in Jinkouhe, near the city of Leshan. The local government reported that 14 individuals have lost their lives, while five individuals remain missing.

Prompt rescue efforts were initiated, with over 180 people and numerous rescue and recovery equipment deployed to the site. This mountainous region, situated approximately 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Chengdu, the provincial capital, is susceptible to landslides, especially during the rainy summer season.

Landslides pose a recurrent threat in rural and mountainous areas of China, and Sichuan, known for its remote and densely forested terrain, is particularly prone to such disasters. Tragic incidents involving landslides occurred in 2017 and 2019, resulting in significant loss of life and infrastructure damage. Additionally, the province experiences seismic activity and has a history of deadly earthquakes.

While China has made efforts to enhance safety measures in its extractive industries, accidents still occur with some frequency. Earlier this year, a slope collapse in Inner Mongolia resulted in numerous individuals being declared missing or dead, and a similar incident occurred in Xinjiang in December, where a gold mine collapsed, trapping approximately 40 workers underground. The authorities continue to prioritize safety and rescue operations to mitigate the impact of such incidents.

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