China mudslides toll rises to 1,287
By IANSWednesday, August 18, 2010
BEIJING - Mudslides triggered by torential rains in northwest China in the past 10 days have claimed 1,287 lives so far, with 457 people went missing, authorities said.
The death toll from the mudslides in Zhouqu County, northwest China’s Gansu Province, rose to 1,287 Wednesday, with 457 still missing, according to Xinhua.
The rains Aug 7 prompted an avalanche of sludge and debris to crash down on the county seat of Zhouqu the following morning, ripping many houses from their foundations and tearing multi-story apartment buildings in half.
Rains have wreaked havoc across China this summer, causing the worst flooding and landslides in decades.
Meanwhile. another mudslide struck a remote town in southwest China’s Yunnan Province Wednesday, leaving at least one people dead, 90 missing and 40 injured.
