Local authorities in north China's Hebei Province have stepped up rescue and relief efforts after torrential rainfall triggered a landslide which killed eight people and left four others missing.
The landslide struck a village in Mayingzi Man Ethnic Township in Luanping County early on Monday.
Rescuers have recovered all eight bodies and are continuing to search for the four missing people, local authorities said on Tuesday.
The single road leading to the village has been blocked and communications infrastructure has been severely damaged, effectively cutting the village off from the outside world and making rescuers' jobs much harder.
The blocked road runs adjacent to a rain-swollen tributary of the Chaohe River which is located between two mountains, meaning rescue equipment can only advance slowly.
Communications outages mean rescuers have become the only means of getting information from the village to others on the outside.
A group of 12 firefighters trekked all the way into the village on Monday afternoon, and video clips captured by the rescuers showed serious damage to residential houses and infrastructures.
In addition to searching for missing individuals, rescuers also evacuated trapped and injured villagers to a temporary settlement.
After the landslide, soldiers walked 15 kilometers overnight to bring supplies like bread and water to stranded villagers.
"After being given the task of disaster relief, our department proceeded quickly to the affected area. After surveying the damage, we found multiple bridges and roads had been destroyed, resulting in transportation disruption. We are fully prepared for continuous operations to ensure the safety of the people," said Wang Xiaolong, an officer of the People's Armed Forces Department of Luanping County.
"These supplies met our most urgent needs, and we are extremely grateful to the rescuers," said Zhao Ning, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) branch in Mayingzi Man Ethnic Township.
Local authorities intensify rescue, relief efforts following landslide in Hebei
In his new year's call to world leaders, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged world leaders to get "priorities straight" and invest in development, not destruction.
"As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law. A retreat from the very principles that bind us together as a human family. People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act?" Guterres said in his New Year message for 2026.
The scale of global suffering remains severe. More than one-quarter of humanity lives in conflict-affected areas, over 200 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million have been forcibly displaced by war, crises, disasters or persecution, according to UN statistics.
"As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words: Global military spending has soared to 2.7 trillion dollars, growing by almost 10 percent. That is thirteen times more than all development aid, equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa. All, while conflict rages at levels unseen since World War II. On this new year, let's resolve to get our priorities straight. A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars," said the UN chief.
A UN report released in September 2025 showed that rising military spending comes at a high opportunity cost, noting that less than 4 percent of current global military expenditure could end world hunger by 2030, just over 10 percent could vaccinate every child worldwide, and reallocating 15 percent would be sufficient to cover annual climate adaptation costs in developing countries.
"Peace must prevail. It's clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice. In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain. And I urge everyone who hears this message: Play your part. Our future depends on our collective courage to act. This new year, let‘’s rise together: For justice. For humanity. For peace," he said.
UN chief issues New Year's call to world leaders for peace, development
