Two people have died and seven remain unaccounted for after a landslide struck a road that was under construction in central China’s Hubei province last Saturday, according to Xinhua News Agency. The incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by workers in remote construction zones where heavy rainfall can quickly destabilize terrain and complicate rescue efforts. Local authorities dispatched emergency teams and set up perimeter zones to safeguard other workers while the search continued through the weekend. The information confirms the severity of the situation and points to the immediate need for ongoing assessment of site stability as weather conditions evolve in the region.
The landslide occurred in the afternoon, precipitated by days of persistent heavy rainfall that saturated the soil and destabilized rock formations near the construction site. Estimates indicate that more than 500,000 cubic meters of rock and earth were mobilized by the slide, dramatically altering the landscape around the work area in Yueshan town, which sits within the broader urban district of Yichang. Rescue teams faced a challenging environment as they navigated collapsed materials, shifting debris, and potential aftershocks that could trigger further slides. Authorities emphasized that the scale of the displacement raised the complexity of the operation and increased the risk to responders, a reality that tends to intensify as weather patterns continue to influence the area.
Hundreds of soldiers, along with local police and civilian volunteers, joined the effort to locate the seven workers feared buried beneath debris. A veteran participant in the search, identified by surnames in reports, described the work as “complicated” due to the sheer volume of displaced soil and rock, as well as the unstable ground that could give way at any moment. He also noted the ongoing danger of new geological disasters, including potential secondary landslides, mudflows, or rockfalls, which can interrupt operations and endanger crews. The situation has prompted officials to halt certain activities temporarily while geotechnical specialists conduct on-site inspections and advise on safer access routes for uniformed rescue teams. The public is urged to await official updates as authorities coordinate international and domestic support to accelerate the retrieval and to minimize further harm.