Mudslide in East China’s Jiangxi Leaves One Dead, 11 Missing

Dragon Media News Desk

One person has died and 11 others remain missing after a mudslide struck a village in Suichuan County of Ji’an City in east China’s Jiangxi Province early Saturday.

According to the local flood control and drought relief headquarters, the mudslide occurred at around 4 a.m. following days of torrential rain brought by Typhoon Saudel. Two people have been rescued alive and are reported to be in stable condition.

More than 640 rescuers have been deployed to the disaster site for search and rescue operations. Because the road leading to the village was damaged by the mudslide, the first group of firefighters carrying life-detection equipment, drones and search dogs reached the affected area at around 11 a.m. after taking a detour through the mountains.

So far, 39 villagers have been evacuated to safe locations. More than 5,300 people in nearby areas have also been relocated as a precaution against possible secondary disasters.

Repair work is continuing on damaged roads and power lines, while telecommunications services have already been restored, local authorities said.

After Typhoon Saudel affected around 161,500 people across Jiangxi Province, the provincial committee for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief activated a Level III provincial emergency response for disaster relief at noon on Saturday.

China’s Ministry of Natural Resources also raised its geological disaster emergency response for Jiangxi from Level IV to Level III and dispatched a work team to the site to assist with rescue operations and risk assessment.

The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level IV national emergency response for natural disaster relief. Work teams and emergency survey personnel have also been deployed, using equipment including slope radar to monitor the risk of further landslides.

Meanwhile, China’s National Development and Reform Commission allocated 20 million yuan from the central natural disaster relief fund to support emergency rescue and disaster relief operations in Jiangxi.

The funds will be used to rebuild damaged roads, water conservancy infrastructure, schools, hospitals and other public service facilities. Authorities aim to restore normal production and daily life in the affected areas as quickly as possible.

China operates a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I representing the most severe level.