Typhoon Saudel Triggers Landslide in China’s Jiangxi, Killing One and Leaving 11 Missing

A landslide triggered by days of typhoon-driven rain killed one person and left 11 missing in a village in Suichuan county, Jiangxi province, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.

The landslide struck at about 4 a.m. local time on Sept. 5 in Ji’an city. Three people have been rescued. Two were reported to be in stable condition, while the third died after being recovered.

Authorities launched a full search and rescue operation for those still missing. They also ordered safety measures and evacuations to reduce the risk of additional landslides and other secondary disasters.

Jiangxi authorities said about 161,500 people had been affected by Typhoon Saudel. The provincial disaster prevention, reduction and relief commission issued a level-three emergency response for disaster relief at noon the previous day.

China’s Ministry of Natural Resources raised Jiangxi’s geological-disaster response from level four to level three and sent a work team to support operations. The National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management also activated a national level-four emergency response. Fire and rescue authorities deployed 41 vehicles and 224 personnel, while drones from nearby areas supported communications and on-site reconnaissance. China’s system has four emergency levels, with level one the most severe.