News >Regional

SW China 'lifeline' highway blocked

2011-07-21 14:25

CHENGDU - A major highway in Southwest China's Sichuan province was blocked by rain-triggered landslides for the third time this month on Thursday, just four days after it reopened on Monday.

Landslides triggered by torrential rains blocked several sections of National Highway 213, which runs between the city of Dujiangyan and Wenchuan county, around 12 am Thursday morning.

The highway, which links the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan, was referred to as a "lifeline" by rescue workers following the devastating earthquake that occurred in Sichuan's Wenchuan county in 2008, as it served as a vital channel for getting aid and supplies to the country's town of Yingxiu, the epicenter of the quake.

Li Jianglai, an employee of the Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, said workers have been toiling around the clock to repair the road. However, the non-stop landslides have made their work more difficult, he said.

No casualties were reported as a result of the landslides.

The highway previously reopened on Monday this week, just 16 days after it was blocked by rain-triggered landslides on July 2 and July 1 respectively.

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