Landslides in eastern China kill six, nine still missing after Typhoon Saudel rains

Six people have died and nine remain missing after landslides struck eastern China, state media reported. The disasters followed days of torrential rain brought by Typhoon Saudel, officials said.

What happened

State news agency Xinhua reported that a mudslide hit Mingkeng village in Jiangxi province on Saturday, leaving five people dead and seven missing, citing local officials. Xinhua said the mudslide damaged homes and destabilised roads.

Separate landslides in the nearby townships of Zuo’an and Tanghu left one person dead and two others missing, according to the agency. In total, state media reported six deaths and nine people unaccounted for.

Rescue effort and disruptions

The report said more than 170 rescuers were deployed to search the affected sites. Xinhua also said that several cities had suspended work, schools and transport services during the heavy rains.

Regional context and experts’ warnings

Xinhua and AFP noted the landslides followed torrential rains unleashed by Typhoon Saudel, which first made landfall on China’s eastern coast at the end of last month.

The coverage also referenced recent devastating glacial floods in the Himalayas. State media reported those floods killed 43 people in Tibet and nearly 1,300 people in Nepal, with more than 5,000 people missing in Nepal and 519 missing on the Tibetan side.

State media quoted scientists saying that climate change is accelerating glacial melting worldwide and making extreme storms more frequent, increasing the risk of such disasters.

Ongoing developments

Authorities continue recovery and search operations in Jiangxi, Xinhua reported. Further details about the missing and the full extent of the damage were not provided in the state media account.