Rescue efforts are going on as of Saturday regardless of bad weather after two separate landslides struck Dafang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on Thursday.
As of Saturday, 17 people remain trapped and four have been confirmed killed in the disaster.
Rescue teams, including firefighters and police officers, are working tirelessly to locate those still trapped. Sniffer dogs, life detectors, and advanced surveying and mapping technologies are being deployed. While the weather forecast predicts rain in the coming days, officials say it will not hinder ongoing rescue efforts.
"Now 45 rescue personnel, including us firefighters and experts from the Anneng rescue team, entered the core disaster area with seven excavators to carry out rescue operations. Our geological experts set up four monitoring points, and firefighters established three more, making a total of seven safety monitoring points. We also deployed two drones for aerial surveillance," said Hu Haishan, a local firefighter.
For safety reasons, rescue personnel evacuate when rainfall becomes too heavy, resuming operations as conditions permit.
While persistent rain has posed a major challenge to rescue operations, the steep, narrow, and slippery mountain roads leading to the landslide site have created additional difficulties. Most sections are less than three meters wide, making it hard to transport heavy machinery like excavators.
Local police said they are working with firefighters to carry out rescue missions, and make timely adjustments according to weather conditions.
"Today's work mainly involves emergency response and on-site operations. We are coordinating with firefighters to carry out the rescue, and based on weather conditions, we will increase the deployment of professional equipment and personnel," said Liu Yong, a police officer.
Although these major challenges sometimes hinder rescue operations, the firefighters and policemen said they will not quit searching for the missing individuals. The local villagers are also ready to help whenever they are needed.
Rescue efforts ongoing after deadly landslides strike rural county in Guizhou
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
