China landslide: Death toll reaches 25 after landslide buries dozens in freezing winter temperatures

CNN
—

The death toll from the landslide that occurred in southwest China has risen to 25 people, while rescuers continue to comb through mud, snow and rubble in search of survivors.

State broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday that 19 people were still missing.

Authorities mobilized more than 1,000 rescue workers and 45 rescue dogs for the search mission following the landslide that hit the mountain village of Liangshui in Yunnan province, shortly before dawn on Monday, when most residents were asleep.

A total of 18 homes were buried, and more than 500 people were evacuated, CCTV reported.

Drone footage Footage released by local government media of the disaster site showed a wide slope of dark mud cascading down mountain terraces and snow-covered rooftops of villages.

Dozens of fire engines and earth-moving equipment were also deployed as part of the rescue efforts, according to CCTV.

Footage broadcast on CCTV Footage showed firefighters wearing orange jumpsuits climbing through the gray rubble of destroyed homes to search for survivors, against a backdrop of steep mountain hills covered in snow.

The Xinhua News Agency reported that a man was pulled from under the rubble shortly after 11 a.m. local time on Monday.

China Central Television reported that the area was hit by heavy snow on Sunday night, and although snowfall has subsided since then, the temperature remained below freezing on Monday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged local officials to quickly intensify rescue efforts in a statement published by CCTV.

Xi also called on officials across China to be on high alert to avoid any major incidents as Chinese New Year celebrations approach, according to China Central Television.

Yunnan's remote mountains are vulnerable to landslides, due to steep slopes and unstable soil.

The China Meteorological Administration said that most areas of southern China, including Yunnan Province, are experiencing a cold wave, with temperatures falling near or below freezing.

This story has been updated with further developments.