Mud Slide in China

More than 700 people are now known to have died in a massive landslide in north-west China.The force of the torrent toppled high-rises, tore houses from their foundations and sheared the sides off buildings. Buildings seven storeys high crumpled like paper. The landslides, in remote Zhouqu county, Gansu, were triggered by torrential rains that hit the area. The thick layer of mud flattened an area 5km by 500m. Landslide debris blocked a river which then burst its banks, sending water, rocks and mud down several hillsides and on to homes. Soldiers have blasted through the blockage on the Bailong river, lowering the water level of an unstable lake created by the landslide.

This second major Asian disaster in as many weeks follows the severe flooding in Pakistan, where it is now believed 1,700 people have been killed.