Two dead as China landslide topples seven houses

A massive landslide triggered by torrential rain from Typhoon Morakot toppled seven houses in a town in eastern China, killing two people and injuring four, firefighters and residents said on Tuesday.

A massive landslide triggered by torrential rain from Typhoon Morakot toppled seven houses in a town in eastern China, killing two people and injuring four, firefighters and residents said on Tuesday.

HT Image

The buildings collapsed around 10:00 pm (local time) yesterday night in the town of Pengxi, in Taishun county near Wenzhou City in Zhejiang province.

Rescuers pulled six people from the debris, the deputy captain of the Taishun county firefighting team told AFP.

“Two have died and four were injured,” said the firefighter, surnamed Wang.

He said seven older buildings had collapsed but only six residents were at home when the landslide hit. Rescue teams had sealed off the area and were now clearing up the scene.

Local resident Tang Zhonghai said he was woken up the landslide.

“At about 10 o’clock at night I heard a very loud noise. I thought it was an earthquake but I saw through the window that the old buildings had fallen down. My house stands on the opposite side of the road, 10 metres from them,” Tang told AFP.