Yunnan reveals cause of January landslide that killed 44

Yunnan province's department of emergency management recently released its findings on a landslide that occurred in January in Zhenxiong county of Zhaotong city, confirming the incident was not directly linked to coal mining.

According to the official report, the landslide was triggered by the collapse of rock formations on steep terrain.

Factors including intense weathering, water infiltration from rainfall, repeated freeze-thaw cycles and sudden temperature drops combined with rain and snow contributed to the structural imbalance that led to the disaster, according to the report.

The investigation concluded that coal and stone mining were not directly related to the landslide. A nearby mountain fissure was also found to be unrelated to the event.

About 160,000 cubic meters of earth collapsed, destroying 52 households, killing 44 and causing losses of 145 million yuan ($19.9 million), the report said.

The site had not been identified as a geological hazard before the landslide and, thus, was not under management. No clear signs of deformation were observed during regular inspections, the report said.

The investigation also revealed failures in identifying potential geological risks and inadequate resilience to natural disasters. Local authorities lacked sufficient understanding of long-term erosion.

Technological capabilities for disaster prevention remain weak overall, with manual monitoring and inspections serving as the primary means of early warning, the report added.

Liu Boqian contributed to this story.