11 dead, 14 missing in mudslides in SW China

Rescuers and local residents conduct rescue work at the site of a mudslide in Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 21, 2014. The mudslide happened at around 6 a.m. Monday in Huna Village of Monghai Tow, where 13 houses were crushed and dozens of others damaged. The local public security bureau said the death toll reached ten, ten are missing and another seven were injured as of 4 p.m. Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

KUNMING -- Two mudslides killed 11 people and left 14 others missing in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Monday, the local government said.

One villager died and four others were buried when a mudslide hit a village in Yuanjiang County in the city of Yuxi at 12:30 p.m., the county government's press office said in a statement.

It said the five victims belonged to one family and their house was crushed by the mudslide.

Rescuers retrieved a dead body in the afternoon and were still searching for the four others.

Meanwhile, a mudslide in a village in Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong early in the morning killed 10. As of 4 p.m., 10 people were still missing and seven others were injured.

The mudslide happened at around 6 a.m. in Huna Village of Monghai Tow, where 13 houses were crushed and dozens were damaged.

Continuous downpours have also caused several landslides, blocking roads linking the village to other areas and cutting off power supply.

Four injured people needed to be transported to the nearest city for treatment. Victims are badly in need of relief supplies including tents and waterproof clothing, the local authorities said at a disaster relief meeting.

Zhang Guojun, a rescuer, told Xinhua the mudslide had blocked access to the village. It also caused power disruptions.

Zhang said no mechanical equipment is being used to search for survivors. Rescuers are using only shovels and their bare hands to dig through the debris.

Several excavating machines were working to remove mud and rocks.

More than 1,100 rescuers trying to reach Huna were still stranded on the way.

Around 20 tents, 20 bags of rice and 60 quilts have already been allocated to the disaster-hit area. Three electric generators and another 100 tents are on their way.

Yunnan is prone to mudslides as more than 90 percent of the province is mountainous.

A mudslide hit Shawa Village of Fugong County on July 9, leaving nine people dead and eight missing.

Most regions of Yunnan have entered the annual flood season. As of Monday, more than 140 people in Yunnan have been killed or are missing due to disasters caused by heavy rain, according to the provincial meteorological bureau.

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