Rescue operations ongoing after deadly landslides hit rural Guizhou county

Rescue operations are ongoing after two separate landslides struck a rural county in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Thursday, leaving at least four dead as the search for 17 other missing residents continues.

The disasters hit two remote townships in Guizhou's Dafang County on Thursday morning, with the first incident occurring at around 03:00 in Changshi town and the second striking the town of Guowa at about 09:00.

Authorities said later on Thursday evening that the bodies of two victims had been recovered from Changshi, while another two fatalities were confirmed in Guowa, where the search for the 17 remaining victims is now continuing amid challenging conditions.

The landslide in Guowa occurred when massive volumes of earth and rock cascaded down from a ridgeline near an adjacent mountain top, violently descending into the valley below.

The geological instability of the area has further complicated rescue efforts, with the main road leading to the town being buried by the landslide, blocking access for large rescue equipment.

Rescue teams, including firefighters and personnel from the China Anneng Construction Group Corporation, have reached the site on foot to carry out search and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, a large drone has also been deployed to aerially transport essential equipment such as life detectors, 5G transmission devices, and other rescue materials to the disaster zone.

Rescuers are racing against time to locate and reach those who are thought to be trapped in the households engulfed by the huge mounds of rubble, which extends for hundreds of meters.

"The landslide mass spans an elevation difference of about 390 meters from the top to bottom, stretching about 900 meters in length, and reaches a width of up to 240 meters at its widest point," said Lu Jun, chief engineer at the institute of surveying and mapping under the Guizhou provincial government's natural resources department.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has activated emergency response measures for the geological disasters and has dispatched a working team to the site to guide rescue operations.

The ministry also urged swift efforts to verify the situation, carry out the vital search and rescue work, and also take steps to guard against the occurrence of any secondary disasters.

Rescue operations ongoing after deadly landslides hit rural Guizhou county

Rescue operations ongoing after deadly landslides hit rural Guizhou county

Rescue operations ongoing after deadly landslides hit rural Guizhou county

Rescue operations ongoing after deadly landslides hit rural Guizhou county

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests