A disastrous landslide left?21 villagers trapped on Friday
after rescuers pulled?23 victims from toppled houses in Nayong
County of the southwest China's Guizhou Province.
"Excavators are clearing up the rubble and rescue efforts are
still under way," said Yang Guoshun, a work safety commissioner
with the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS). The accident
occurred at 3 AM. Among the dead, five were children.
Wang Zhengfu, the province's vice-governor and other officials
arrived at the site shortly after the accident.
There were 19 families living in Zuojiaying Village, which has a
population of 88, Yang said in a telephone interview.
Some people were not at home when the tragedy occurred, he
said.
Of the 13 people who were rescued, three were in critical
condition. Others were either hospitalized or slightly injured, an
official surnamed Chen of the Communist Party Committee of the
county said.
In all, the official told China Daily, the landslide
has destroyed 25 houses.
The rescuers included armed police, soldiers and officers of the
People's Liberation Army stationed in Guizhou, said Chen.
An investigation will be required to find the reason for the
landslide.
Officials said it is hard to predict how long it will take to
clean up the debris. Meanwhile, the number of casualties could
rise.
The tragedy is the second one in Guizhou Province just two days
after a fatal gas explosion occurred in Panxian County, which
killed 16 miners.
On December 1, a total of 49 miners were working underground
when the blast took place. A total of 33 escaped from the scene,
including four injuries, officials said.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency?December 4,
2004)
