Search yields just 13 bodies at slide site
Source: Xinhua |
July 2, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE death toll from a rain-triggered landslide in southwest China's Guizhou Province rose to 13 after rescuers recovered another two bodies last night, rescue headquarters said.
Some 2,000 people continued the rescue operation, but the chance of survival for the other 86 villagers was slim after being buried under mud for three days. Rescuers expect to find more bodies as they comb the ruins.
"It is almost impossible for any of the trapped to be alive now. We are doing our utmost to retrieve the bodies. We hope that will bring closure for the bereaved families," said Li Jigao, a rescuer.
The landslide struck 37 homes in Dazhai Village Guanling County at 2:30pm on Monday.
Some migrant workers have returned home after hearing their relatives were missing. A young woman in her twenties blacked out yesterday morning after seeing some clothing being dug out of the debris, said Liu Shisheng, an armed police officer.
"My grandfather is still buried there," said Huang Jiping, a senior student from Guizhou Normal University. He rushed home after hearing the tragedy.
Despite the grief, he is helping children resume classes as a "temporary teacher." "I major in education, and I think I can help," Huang said.
More than 80 students resumed their classes in make-shift tents in the village yesterday.
"In the first two days we were looking for survivors with life detectors and sniffer dogs. Today the priority has shifted to retrieving bodies," said rescuer Fan Wenjian.
The landslide lasted for two minutes, and there was no warning. It would have been very difficult for the villagers to escape, said a safety official.
"The sound was much like thunder. When I looked back, the whole village had disappeared," said survivor Zhang Jin.
The landslide consisted of some 1.5 million to 2 million cubic meters of mud, and it was unstable and likely to trigger additional landslides, said Yin Yueping, a researcher with the Ministry of Land and Resources.
At least 1,000 villagers living in the area have been evacuated.
Torrential rains have been ravaging south China for the past two months. A once-in-three-century rainstorm was seen in Lingyun County of Guizhou's neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Sunday to Tuesday, and residents had to use boats when outdoors.
Local weather bureaus said heavy rains will continue to pound Shandong and Qinghai provinces.
Some 2,000 people continued the rescue operation, but the chance of survival for the other 86 villagers was slim after being buried under mud for three days. Rescuers expect to find more bodies as they comb the ruins.
"It is almost impossible for any of the trapped to be alive now. We are doing our utmost to retrieve the bodies. We hope that will bring closure for the bereaved families," said Li Jigao, a rescuer.
The landslide struck 37 homes in Dazhai Village Guanling County at 2:30pm on Monday.
Some migrant workers have returned home after hearing their relatives were missing. A young woman in her twenties blacked out yesterday morning after seeing some clothing being dug out of the debris, said Liu Shisheng, an armed police officer.
"My grandfather is still buried there," said Huang Jiping, a senior student from Guizhou Normal University. He rushed home after hearing the tragedy.
Despite the grief, he is helping children resume classes as a "temporary teacher." "I major in education, and I think I can help," Huang said.
More than 80 students resumed their classes in make-shift tents in the village yesterday.
"In the first two days we were looking for survivors with life detectors and sniffer dogs. Today the priority has shifted to retrieving bodies," said rescuer Fan Wenjian.
The landslide lasted for two minutes, and there was no warning. It would have been very difficult for the villagers to escape, said a safety official.
"The sound was much like thunder. When I looked back, the whole village had disappeared," said survivor Zhang Jin.
The landslide consisted of some 1.5 million to 2 million cubic meters of mud, and it was unstable and likely to trigger additional landslides, said Yin Yueping, a researcher with the Ministry of Land and Resources.
At least 1,000 villagers living in the area have been evacuated.
Torrential rains have been ravaging south China for the past two months. A once-in-three-century rainstorm was seen in Lingyun County of Guizhou's neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from Sunday to Tuesday, and residents had to use boats when outdoors.
Local weather bureaus said heavy rains will continue to pound Shandong and Qinghai provinces.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
