What Happened in Guangzhou? Two Confirmed Dead After Landslide

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two fatalities confirmed from the landslide in Guangzhou.
- Ongoing rescue efforts for the five missing individuals.
- Local authorities evacuated 996 residents from affected areas.
- Heavy rainfall caused significant disruptions across Guangdong.
- Emergency supplies have been allocated for those affected.
Beijing, Aug 7 (NationPress) After a devastating rain-induced landslide in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, rescuers have managed to extract nine individuals from the rubble, with two fatalities confirmed, according to local officials on Thursday. The search for the remaining five individuals who are still unaccounted for is ongoing.
Rescue teams are working diligently to address flooding issues, locate trapped residents, and clear obstructed roads following days of relentless rainfall that have caused landslides and disrupted traffic throughout the province.
By Wednesday evening, emergency responders had rescued eight of the 14 individuals trapped in the wreckage of a landslide in Dayuan Village, a part of Guangzhou, as reported by local fire and rescue authorities.
The landslide occurred around 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, damaging several residences. An on-site command center has been set up to manage both rescue and relief operations, provide medical assistance to the injured, and evacuate those affected. By 5 p.m. that day, a total of 996 residents had been evacuated, as per reports from Xinhua news agency.
The Baiyun District has deployed 607 rescue personnel and mobilized 733 pieces of equipment, including excavators, life detectors, and emergency communication vehicles. Additionally, 2,200 emergency supplies, such as tents and raincoats, have been distributed.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, several routes remained closed due to ongoing heavy rainfall, including six expressway sections, two toll stations, one service area, along with six national or provincial highways and 36 rural roads across Guangdong, as indicated by the provincial transport department.
Yang Guojie, the chief forecaster at the provincial meteorological service, noted that the current heavy rainfall is attributed to a subtropical high-pressure system in conjunction with an active monsoon trough.
Forecasts suggest that rain may diminish by Thursday or Friday, with most areas in the province expected to experience cloudy conditions and rising temperatures, according to the provincial meteorological observatory.