Landslide in China: Death toll rises to 25 as landslides bury dozens in freezing cold weather

CNN
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The death toll from a landslide in southwestern China has risen to 25.

State broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday that 19 people were still unaccounted for.

Authorities have mobilized more than 1,000 rescue workers and 45 rescue dogs to search the mountain village of Liangshui in Yunnan province, where most residents were sleeping, early Monday morning.

A total of 18 houses were buried and more than 500 people were evacuated, according to CCTV.

Drone footage Local state media covered the vast sloping dark muddy mountain terraces and village roofs of the disaster site covered in snow.

According to CCTV, dozens of fire engines and earth moving equipment were used as part of the rescue efforts.

The footage was broadcast on CCTV It showed firefighters in orange jumpsuits climbing through the gray rubble of destroyed homes to search for survivors against a backdrop of steep mountain ridges dusted with snow.

One person was rescued from the rubble shortly after 11 a.m. local time on Monday, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

The region was hit by heavy snow on Sunday night and although the snowfall has eased, temperatures will still remain below freezing till Monday, CCTV said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged local authorities to speed up rescue efforts in a statement released by CCTV.

As Chinese New Year celebrations approach, Xi called on authorities across China to be more vigilant to avoid any major accidents, according to CCTV.

Yunnan's remote mountains are prone to landslides due to steep slopes and unstable soils.

Much of southern China, including Yunnan, is in the midst of a cold snap, with temperatures dropping near or below freezing, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

This story has been updated with further developments.