Death toll in China landslide rises to 21 victims

Rescue workers work at the site of a landslide on the outskirts of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China, August 12, 2023.

Heavy rains caused a landslide of rocks and mud on the outskirts of Xi'an, northwestern China, on the night of August 11. Images posted by Xinhua news agency showed many fallen trees and rocks piled up on muddy roads in the area.

Many homes and infrastructure were destroyed or damaged. In a statement posted on WeChat, local officials said the landslide destroyed two homes and left about 900 households without power.

China is currently struggling to cope with an unusually rainy summer. After hitting parts of Japan and South Korea, Typhoon Khanun weakened into a tropical depression when it made landfall in Liaoning Province, northeastern China, on the night of August 11.

Heavy rains continue to pose a risk of flooding in low-lying cities, including Anshan, where more than 17,800 people have been evacuated. Rainfall overnight in Liaoning reached 55 mm per hour, pushing water levels in four reservoirs above the flood limit, according to CCTV.

According to the TV station, the Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management held a special meeting to discuss flood prevention and emergency response measures in severely affected provinces such as Liaoning, Shaanxi, Tianjin and Chongqing. The storm Khanun hit as China was hit by Typhoon Doksuri, which raged in the north, causing heavy rain and flooding after making landfall on July 28.

According to VNA