Four more bodies were recovered early Monday at the site of a
landslide in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, bringing the death toll to
11, with one person still missing, according to rescuers on
Monday.
The landslide occurred at 9:30 AM Friday at Huaxian County's
Gaolou Village when more than 50,000 cubic meters of mud and rock
destroyed 94 houses, burying 13 villagers. Qu Lei, a 15-year-old
boy was pulled from the rubble Saturday, and so far remains the
only survivor of the tragedy.
By Sunday, rescuers had found seven bodies after three days of
digging. About 600 armed police and local people are still
searching for the missing person, with any hope for survival almost
gone. Villagers nearby have been evacuated to safety, said a local
official.
The landslide occurred after ten days of heavy rain on the hilly
area a week prior. Geological experts have been dispatched to
assess the stability of the area's terrain.
?(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)