A landslide in southwestern China’s Yunnan province has buried 44 people from 18 households on Monday, according to state media. The landslide was caused by a combination of factors, including the steep slope, the loose soil, the heavy snowfall, and the freezing and thawing of the ground.
The landslide hit the mountain village of Liangshui shortly before dawn, when most residents were asleep. A total of 18 homes were destroyed, and more than 500 people evacuated. The area was hit by heavy snow on Sunday night, and the temperature still lingered below freezing on Monday.
More than 300 rescue workers were deployed along with dozens of fire engines and earth-moving equipment to search for survivors.
Landslides are common in Yunnan, a remote region of China where steep mountain ranges butt against the Himalayan plateau. In 2017, a landslide in Sichuan province killed more than 100 people.
