The number of people missing after a massive landslide buried dozens of buildings at an industrial park in southern China has risen to at least 91, authorities say.
The landslide happened at about 11:40 a.m. local time on Sunday at the Liuxi Industrial Park, which is located in the northwestern part of Shenzhen City. The landslide destroyed at least 33 buildings, including large multi-story buildings which completely collapsed, and causing a nearby natural gas pipeline to explode.
Local emergency services confirmed on early Monday that the number of people unaccounted-for had risen to at least 91. More than 2,000 rescue workers, including firefighters, police officers and medical staff, are involved in the rescue operations. Sounds have been heard coming from the rubble at three separate locations, indicating that some of the victims could still be alive.
The mud from the landslide has covered an area of more than 60,000 square meters (645,830 square feet) with an average thickness of 6 meters (19.6 feet), the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The landslide consisted of piled-up construction waste and soil, the Chinese newspaper People’s Daily said, citing the Ministry of Land and Resources.
(Copyright 2015 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)
