President Xi Jinping orders all-out rescue of people missing in SW China's landslide

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all-out search and rescue efforts to minimize casualties after a landslide buried 10 houses and left over 30 people missing in Yibin City, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the instruction after the landslide took place at about 11:50 a.m. on Saturday in Jinping Village, Junlian County in the city of Yibin.

In his instruction, Xi stressed the importance of conducting thorough search and rescue operations, managing the aftermath effectively and enhancing disaster monitoring and early warning systems. He also called for scientific rescue methods to prevent secondary disasters.

Xi highlighted the need for all localities and relevant departments to strengthen risk-awareness, bolster inspections of potential hazards, implement clear responsibility measures and take decisive actions to prevent major and catastrophic disasters, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.

Premier Li Qiang also stressed the urgency of the situation, calling for efforts to rescue the trapped and missing individuals, minimize casualties and properly handle the aftermath. Furthermore, Li emphasized the importance of swiftly investigating the cause of the landslide, assessing potential geological risks in surrounding areas and relocating at-risk residents to prevent further disasters.

Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has led relevant department officials to guide rescue and relief operations on-site. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Emergency Management have activated emergency responses, while the Sichuan provincial government and the Yibin municipal government have mobilized resources to support ongoing rescue and disaster relief efforts.