Rescuers are racing against time to find any survivors after a deadly landslide struck a village in Junlian County of southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday, leaving one person dead, two injured and 28 others missing.
The landslide occurred at about 11:50 on Saturday in Jinping Village of the county in Yibin City of the province. In response, authorities have deployed over 900 personnel and sets of advanced equipment, including excavators and radar systems, to assist in the search and rescue efforts.
The landslide, which stretches over one kilometer long, continues to pose risks as rocks have kept falling from the unstable slope above. The rescue workers remain fully committed to locating any missing people while simultaneously working to prevent secondary disasters and enhance hazard identification.
"We're currently doing excavation to make an emergency evacuation passage. The unfavorable weather presents potential risks to our emergency operations, so we are using 3D laser scanners and a slope radar to monitor e stability of the entire landslide mass. If any instability is detected, we can issue immediate warnings to ensure our team evacuates the area promptly," said Feng Weijie, a member of the China Anneng Construction Group's rescue team.
Emergency communications remain critical to the rescue efforts. Telecom operators have deployed equipment to restore network functionality in the affected area.
"We immediately dispatched satellite vehicles to the site and rushed to repair the damaged base stations there to make them operational again. Meanwhile, they are providing free broadband services there to ensure that the rescue teams can maintain normal communication with the outside world," said Di Wei, general manager of China Telecom Yibin Branch.
Local villagers have volunteered to prepare meals for the rescue workers, expressing their gratitude for the teams' unwavering dedication in their search for the missing people.
"All these women have come here to help. They're from other villages," said a local resident.
Beyond providing hot meals, volunteers have set up tents along routes to assist incoming rescue teams.
"Three tents have been set up here, with more volunteers ahead [to support the rescue work]. We'll stay wherever we're needed. We won't leave until the rescue mission is completed," other local villagers said.
The Ministry of Transport reported that following the landslide in Junlian County, they have opened 247 emergency response green lanes to ensure free passage for rescue vehicles while providing free food and medicine to the affected area.
Rescuers racing against time to find survivors after fatal landslide in Sichuan
Rescuers racing against time to find survivors after fatal landslide in Sichuan
Rescuers racing against time to find survivors after fatal landslide in Sichuan
Rescuers racing against time to find survivors after fatal landslide in Sichuan
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.
The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.
The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.
"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.
Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.
"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.
Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.
"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.
"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.
"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.
James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.
"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.
Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences
