Chinese Leader Calls for All-Out Rescue Effort After Massive Landslide

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged rescuers on Saturday to make every effort to save people feared buried in a landslide that hit a mountain village in the country’s southwest, local media said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A massive landslide caused by torrential rains came down from a mountain in the Sichuan province and hit the village of Xinmo at 6 a.m. local time, the CGTN television channel reported.

Torrents of mud and heavy rocks have destroyed 46 homes, trapped at least 141 people and blocked over a mile long stretch of the river, the channel cited Sichuan authorities as saying.

A large search-and-rescue operation is underway to reach people, with over 540 rescuers working at the site. They are getting help from firefighters, health workers and bulldozers.