National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Death toll rises to 23 in north China landslide

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-17 08:40

ZHONGYANG, Shanxi: All of the 23 people buried under the debris after a massive landslide in north China's Shanxi Province have been confirmed dead, rescuers said 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 meters, swept over five homes at about 10:40 a.m. Monday at a village in Zhangzishan Township of Zhongyang County.

Rescuers saved two people alive 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 accident.