19 dead in Yunnan landslide

 

One more body was retrieved on Friday afternoon, bringing the death toll in the landslide in Southwest China's Yunnan province Thursday to 19.

Rescuers search at the landslide site in the village of Zhenhe, located in Yiliang county of Zhaotong city in Southwest China's Yunnan province, Oct 4, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Rescuers search for survivors at the landslide site in the village of Zhenhe, located in Yiliang county of Zhaotong city in Southwest China's Yunnan province, Oct 4, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Eight-hundred residents were relocated after the landslide occurred at around 8:10 a.m. Thursday in the village of Zhenhe, Longhai Township of Yiliang County, with 19 people buried, said a spokesman with the landslide disaster relief headquarters.

Among the dead, 18 were primary school students. They had been attending classes at the time of the landslide despite the ongoing National Day holiday to make up for school delayed by quakes.

Yiliang was struck by multiple earthquakes on September 7, leaving 81 people dead and 800 others injured.

The victims' families in the landslide were each granted 20,000 yuan ($3,160) as condolences in accordance with the standard received by the families of victims in the multiple earthquakes.

One person who had been injured in the landslide is out of danger in hospital.

As of 10 pm Friday, the threat of a barrier lake, which was formed as the landslide blocked a nearby river, had been cleared after rescuers drained the water.

The local government had relocated more than 800 residents living downstream to safer places.

The Ministry of Land and Resources issued a second-level alert for geological disaster and launched emergency geological surveys in areas near the deadly landslide, said a spokesman with the ministry.

Experts sent by the ministry started working with local forces Friday to check slopes, cliffs and valleys, especially areas with residents for hazards and evacuate locals from dangerous sites.

The experts are working with local authorities and experts to jointly investigate Thursday's landslide.

Rescuers search for survivors at the landslide site in the village of Zhenhe, located in Yiliang county of Zhaotong city in SouthwestChina's Yunnan province, Oct 4, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]