China: At least two dead, dozens missing in Yunnan landslide

At least two people have died while dozens others are missing after a landslide struck China’s southwestern province of Yunnan.

The landslide in Zhaotong city happened at 05:51 local time (21:51 GMT) on Monday, trapping 47 people.

President Xi Jinping has ordered an “all-out” rescue in the area that is experiencing sub-zero temperatures.

State broadcaster CCTV has reported that two “unresponsive” bodies have so far been pulled from the rubble.

Rescuers walked on piles of rubble against a backdrop of mountains dusted with snow, with personal belongs scattered among the collapsed masonry, video clips on social media showed.

The cause of the landslide was unclear, but the remote mountainous region is prone to them, due its location. Floods are also common.

More than 500 people were evacuated after the landslide, according to the People’s Daily.

Weather forecasts suggest that the region will see more light snow in the next three days.

A resident of Liangshui village told Jimu News that the landslide happened while they were sleeping.

“It was very loud, and there was also a shake, it felt like a big earthquake,” the woman said.

In January 2013, at least 18 people were killed in a landslide in in Zhenxiong, also in in Zhaotong city.