Key facts
- A landslide in Gansu province, China, killed five people and trapped 12.
- The incident occurred in Nanhe township, Longnan city, burying 33 individuals.
- Rescue operations are underway, with residents relocated from the area.
- The cause of the landslide is currently undetermined.
- President Xi Jinping has ordered comprehensive rescue efforts and relief funds have been allocated.
Five people have died and 12 others remain trapped following a landslide in northwestern China's Gansu province. The incident occurred in Nanhe township of Longnan city shortly before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, burying 33 people in total, according to state media.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with excavators and rescuers seen at the scene. Photos and videos posted online by state broadcaster CCTV showed a sunny and clear sky in a heavily wooded area. Local authorities have relocated residents while the rescue efforts continue. The cause of the landslide has not yet been determined.
Most of those affected were local residents hired as temporary workers at a state-run forestry farm. The mountainous region is known to be prone to natural disasters, particularly during the rainy season. Previous landslides in the region include one in August 2020 that killed at least five people and displaced over 72,000, and another in 2010 that killed over 1,500 people.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive rescue efforts in the wake of recent devastating weather events. China's state planner has announced 30 million yuan in relief funds for the affected region.