A landslide buried homes in a rural area of Yunnan province in southwestern China. Local broadcasters report that the country’s central television network says many residents remain trapped under the rubble. The incident is part of a string of weather-related slides that punctuate a season marked by heavy rain and unstable terrain in several regions.
Officials say the natural disaster happened in the Zhaotong region at 05:51 Beijing time (00:51 Moscow time). Rescue teams, backed by more than 40 units of specialized equipment, have already reached the site. In total, around 200 people are involved in the search for the missing, coordinating efforts across a challenging landscape where debris and unstable ground complicate access for responders.
Earlier this year in Sochi, near the resort of Rosa Khutor, a separate landslide occurred after a period of heavy rainfall. Reports indicate casualties, including deaths, in the city’s central district where the accident disrupted the water network. The resulting damage affected water supply for many streets, underscoring how slides can impact essential infrastructure and daily life in resort areas that rely on reliable services for both residents and visitors.
Eyewitness accounts from August this year describe another landslide that damaged infrastructure in French Savoie. Video and images show a section of the mountain collapsing onto a railway line and a highway used by cars and trucks. Authorities noted that the incident did not cause injuries, but the disruption to transport corridors illustrates how landslides can interrupt mobility and commerce in mountainous regions.
On a different kind of geological event, reports note that an underwater volcanic eruption near Japan formed a new island. The emergence of new land from volcanic activity highlights the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of Earth’s geology, reminding communities that landscapes can change in ways that affect both safety planning and long-term coastal development.