Probe: Rain, quakes led to fatal landslide

YILIANG, Yunnan - Geological experts said Saturday continuous rain, geological conditions and earthquakes jointly triggered a landslide that left 19 people dead on Thursday in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

A team consisting of geological experts and emergency responders sent by the provincial government and the Ministry of Land and Resources said the area where the landslide occurred received about 297 mm of precipitation from September 1 to October 4, three times the amount received during the same period in previous years, a spokesman for the local disaster relief headquarters said Saturday.

Rock and soil that was loosened by multiple earthquakes that occurred in early September formed a landslide after being rained on, the spokesman said.

The mountain slope that the landslide came from has been distorted, posing risks for further disasters, the team said.

Residents living near the area have been relocated.

Nineteen people, including 18 primary school students, were killed in the landslide, which occurred around 8:10 a.m. Thursday in the village of Zhenhe in Yiliang county.

Premier Wen Jiabao visited the site on Friday, calling for greater efforts to prevent future possible disasters and ensure public safety.