Sichuan Landslide Leaves 29 People Missing, Rescue Efforts Underway
On February 8, 2025, at approximately 11:50 am, a sudden landslide occurred in Jinping Village, Mayue Town, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, China. The disaster resulted in 29 people losing contact, with 10 households and 1 production house being buried. As of February 8, 24:00, two injured individuals have been rescued, one with severe injuries and one with minor injuries, and are being treated at the Yibin County People's Hospital, with no life-threatening conditions reported.
9 February 2025
Preliminary investigations suggest that the landslide was caused by recent continuous rainfall and geological conditions, which led to a high-position landslide transforming into a debris flow, forming a debris accumulation body approximately 1.2 kilometers long, 10-20 meters thick, and 100 meters wide. The landslide volume has reached over 100,000 cubic meters, and the slide is still ongoing. Experts point out that the region's unique geology, characterized by steep slopes and loose soil, makes it particularly susceptible to landslides, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. The continuous rain over the past few days has saturated the ground, weakening the soil's stability and increasing the likelihood of such disasters.
A total of 200 people have been relocated, with 155 individuals temporarily housed at the Yibin County Second Middle School, where emergency food and shelter have been provided. The remaining affected residents have been relocated to safe areas through family and friend networks. Emergency response efforts are ongoing to ensure the basic needs of the relocated individuals are met. The shelter is equipped with emergency power generators, tents, and bedding to meet the basic needs of the displaced residents. Additionally, resources such as 30 emergency power generators, 100 canvas tents, 400 disaster relief beds, and 1,100 cotton blankets have been allocated to ensure the basic needs of the relocated residents, including food, shelter, and warmth, are met.
Despite the challenging conditions, rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams working tirelessly to search for the 29 people who remain unaccounted for. The ongoing nature of the landslide complicates rescue efforts, as it not only poses a direct threat to the rescue teams but also continuously changes the terrain, making it challenging to locate survivors or assess the full extent of the damage. The disaster highlights the importance of monitoring geological conditions and early warning systems, especially in regions prone to such natural hazards. It also underscores the need for swift and coordinated response efforts to mitigate the impact of these events and ensure the safety of those affected.
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