Death toll from southwest China landslide rises to 51 as land search ends

· Environment CHN

The death toll from the July 17 landslide in southwest China's Chongqing municipality has risen to 51, with 10 people still missing, authorities confirmed after land-based search operations concluded.

Recovery and dredging work continues in the Wu River, where tonnes of earth and debris swept away residential buildings at the foot of a mountain and along the riverbank in Pengshui County's Hanjia area. More than 800 rescuers, supported by divers and robots, have been deployed to the site.

The disaster, which followed earlier reports of 41 confirmed deaths, prompted the evacuation of more than 1,100 residents. Of the 10 people rescued from the disaster zone, three have been treated and discharged from hospital.

Story development

  1. Death toll from southwest China landslide rises to 51 as land search ends
  2. DNA tests confirm 30 more deaths in southwest China landslide, toll rises to 41

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