Heavy rain helped trigger deadly landslide
Source: Xinhua |
October 7, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GEOLOGICAL experts said yesterday continuous rain, geological conditions and earthquakes jointly triggered a landslide that left 19 people dead on Thursday in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
A team consisting of geological experts and emergency responders sent by the provincial government and the Ministry of Land and Resources said the area where the landslide occurred received about 297 millimeters of precipitation between September 1 and October 4 - three times the amount received in the same period in previous years, a spokesman for the local disaster relief headquarters said yesterday.
Rock and soil that was loosened by multiple earthquakes that occurred in early September formed a landslide following the rain, the spokesman said.
The mountain slope from where the landslide originated is unstable, posing risks for further disasters, the team said.
Residents living near the area have been relocated.
Nineteen people, including 18 primary school students, were killed in the landslide, which occurred around 8:10am Thursday in the village of Zhenhe in Yiliang County.
On Friday, Premier Wen Jiabao called for local governments to take more precautions against possible disasters and make greater efforts to handle safety-related issues, especially those concerning children.
After taking a flight from Beijing to Yiliang, Wen and accompanying officials took a six-hour ride on a rough and dangerous mountain road to reach the remote village.
Wen presented a bouquet for the victims and expressed his condolences to their families.
Wen said the government should learn from the landslide that disaster-prevention efforts must be carefully carried out in mountainous regions with complicated geological conditions.
Nothing can be left to chance when it comes to safety of the people, especially children, Wen said, adding that the local government should thoroughly check every residence to find potential safety risks.
The trip marked Wen's second visit to Yiliang since early September. He previously visited the area on September 8, a day after several earthquakes hit the county, killing 81 people.
The students buried in the landslide were attending school during the ongoing National Day holiday to make up classes missed due to the September quakes. Wen also asked the local government to prevent secondary disasters and properly resettle the survivors so they can make it through the winter comfortably.
A team consisting of geological experts and emergency responders sent by the provincial government and the Ministry of Land and Resources said the area where the landslide occurred received about 297 millimeters of precipitation between September 1 and October 4 - three times the amount received in the same period in previous years, a spokesman for the local disaster relief headquarters said yesterday.
Rock and soil that was loosened by multiple earthquakes that occurred in early September formed a landslide following the rain, the spokesman said.
The mountain slope from where the landslide originated is unstable, posing risks for further disasters, the team said.
Residents living near the area have been relocated.
Nineteen people, including 18 primary school students, were killed in the landslide, which occurred around 8:10am Thursday in the village of Zhenhe in Yiliang County.
On Friday, Premier Wen Jiabao called for local governments to take more precautions against possible disasters and make greater efforts to handle safety-related issues, especially those concerning children.
After taking a flight from Beijing to Yiliang, Wen and accompanying officials took a six-hour ride on a rough and dangerous mountain road to reach the remote village.
Wen presented a bouquet for the victims and expressed his condolences to their families.
Wen said the government should learn from the landslide that disaster-prevention efforts must be carefully carried out in mountainous regions with complicated geological conditions.
Nothing can be left to chance when it comes to safety of the people, especially children, Wen said, adding that the local government should thoroughly check every residence to find potential safety risks.
The trip marked Wen's second visit to Yiliang since early September. He previously visited the area on September 8, a day after several earthquakes hit the county, killing 81 people.
The students buried in the landslide were attending school during the ongoing National Day holiday to make up classes missed due to the September quakes. Wen also asked the local government to prevent secondary disasters and properly resettle the survivors so they can make it through the winter comfortably.
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