Tragedy Strikes China: Numerous Lives Lost and Many Still Unaccounted for in Yunnan Landslide

Rescue workers in China are urgently trying to locate a number of missing individuals following a landslide in the city of Zhaotong in the Yunnan province. The incident occurred at 05:51 local time on Monday, trapping 47 people and resulting in the deaths of 11. President Xi Jinping has called for an extensive rescue operation in the area, which is currently experiencing freezing temperatures. Initial reports suggest that the landslide was caused by a collapse in a steep cliff. The affected area measured approximately 100m wide, 60m tall, and had an average thickness of 6m. Over 500 individuals have been evacuated from their homes, and nearly 1,000 rescue workers have been dispatched to the site. A local resident described the noise and vibrations caused by the landslide, stating that it felt like a major earthquake. Videos shared on social media depict rescuers navigating through heaps of debris against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. The region, which is remote and mountainous, is prone to landslides, with a similar incident occurring in the same county in January 2013 that claimed the lives of at least 18 people. Additionally, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Wushi county in China's Xinjiang at 02:00 local time on Tuesday. State broadcaster CCTV noted that no casualties have been reported, but some homes have suffered damage and certain areas have experienced power outages.