At least 21 people have been confirmed dead after a landslide struck a remote valley in Gansu province in northwestern China, with search and rescue operations now officially concluded, according to Chinese state media.
The landslide hit Tanchang County early on Tuesday, trapping 33 people beneath mud and debris.
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, rescue teams searched the affected area before ending operations on Wednesday after recovering the victims.
State-run China Newsweek reported that most of those caught in the landslide were residents from nearby villages who had been employed as temporary workers at a state-run forestry farm located in the valley.
Gansu’s rugged mountainous terrain, marked by steep valleys and fast-flowing rivers, is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as landslides and flash floods, especially during the annual rainy season.
The latest tragedy underscores the continuing risks posed by extreme weather and unstable terrain in parts of western China.
(with inputs from Reuters)
