No signs of life detected in NW China landslide

Rescuers clean the landslide site in Shanyang county, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug 12, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

XI'AN - No life sign has been detected for over three days after a landslide in Northwest China's Shaanxi province buried 64 people, local authorities said.

A landslide hit the dormitory of a mining company and three houses early Wednesday morning. Of the missing, seven are minors from eight months to six years old.

On Saturday afternoon, rescuers conducted a thorough search of the debris in Shanyang County but found no evidence of survivors, said Guo Lianfeng, a fire fighter at the site.

Guo said the huge volume of mud and rubble, combined with the risk of a second landslide, had hindered the search.

Ten people escaped unaided and four others were dug out by rescuers and taken to hospital. The missing included villagers, mine-workers and their families, and construction workers.

There are a number of vanadium mines in the area and residents have often voiced concern about the effect of mining on the environment.