One Survivor Found, Dozens Still Missing In China Landslide

The search intensified for more than 91 people missing in southern China after a massive landslide buried around three dozen buildings in the city of Shenzhen.

Tian Zeming, a 19-year-old migrant worker from Sichuan province, was pulled from the debris at about 6.30 AM on Wednesday, according to a Guardian report.

He was rushed to Guangming New District Central Hospital where his condition has been reported as stable.

He told rescuers there was another person buried near him, but officials said they did not survive. The rescuers were, however unable to save that person and Tian Zeming was told that the other man did not survive.

The government has opened an official investigation into the incident, after it emerged that authorities had previously issued warnings about the mound.

Wang Yongquan, who narrowly escaped the Shenzhen landslide, said he and his neighbors had watched trucks carrying construction waste for the past two years, and seen a mountain of rubble grow where once was a hollow quarry.

Firefighters had to squeeze into the narrow room where he was trapped and remove most of the debris by hand, said police officer Zhang Yabin.

The government is also investigating a dump site company called Shenzhen Yixianglong Investment and Development, which managed the waste dump that collapsed, causing the deadly landslide.

Heavy machinery continues to rake through the thousands of tonnes of soil and rubble that has swollen up factories and residential buildings even though the 72-hour golden period for saving lives has ended.

“After verification, as of 2:30pm on December 22, 76 people in total are still missing, of whom 51 are male and 25 female”. Her husband had been buried alive, the paper said.

(Translated) “Our resources command continued in the day and night rescue work according to the grid style and accurate rescuing arrangements in the Shenzhen landslide accident and dug 15 metres deep in two rescue sites”.

The landslide struck early Sunday morning at the Hengtaiyu Industrial Park, where a giant hill of discarded construction material and dirt was dislodged amid heavy rains, destroying 33 buildings, state media said. At least 160 people were killed in massive chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin in August.