13 Aug 2010

Thousands more trapped by fatal landslides in China

9:47 pm on 13 August 2010

Heavy rain across parts of China has caused more landslides and flooding, killing at least 29 people and trapping more than 10,500 on Friday.

Twenty-four deaths were in remote Gansu province, following torrential rains and landslides, according to state media.

More than 1000 people died in the town of Zhouqu in the province last weekend when an avalanche of mud roared down the slopes of a mountain after unusually strong downpours, Reuters reports. More rain is forecast for Zhouqu over the next few days.

In Sichuan province to the south, mudslides have killed five people and trapped more than 500.

At least 1,000 people have died in floods in central, southern and northeast China so far this year.