Wednesday, February 10, 2010

November 17, 2009 10:32 AM

Massive Landslide Leaves 23 Dead In North China

ZHONGYANG, Shanxi, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- All of the 23 people buried under the debris after a massive landslide in north China's Shanxi Province have been confirmed dead, China's Xinhua news agency reported quoting rescuers as saying on Tuesday.

Rescuers retrieved 12 bodies Monday, and they had found another 11 bodies by early Tuesday morning.

The landslide, covering an area of about 20,000 square metres, swept over five homes at about 10:40 a.m. Monday at a village in Zhangzishan Township of Zhongyang County.

Rescuers saved two people soon after the landslide.

More than 300 people pitched in the rescue operation for 23 others who were buried under the debris.

The victims were migrant workers at a nearby coal mine and their families. They were all natives from southwestern Yunnan Province, rescuers said.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the landslide.

-- BERNAMA

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