China landslide leaves at least five dead with 12 more trapped

Five people have been killed and 12 others are trapped after a landslide in northern China.

Rescuers were deployed to the scene in Gansu province at 7am local time on Tuesday, where 33 people were initially trapped in a valley in Tanchang county.

They had found 21 people by the afternoon, but five subsequently died despite receiving emergency treatment.

Most of those affected were residents from nearby villages hired as temporary workers at a state-run forestry farm.

Local authorities have relocated other residents as they continue the rescue operation.

The cause of the landslide has yet to be determined, but the mountainous region is prone to natural disasters - particularly during the rainy season.

A disastrous 2008 earthquake in the neighbouring Sichuan province killed over 69,000 people, and partly destabilised geological conditions in the region.

More landslides have also been recorded in the region in recent years.

In August 2020, mudslides killed at least five people and displaced more than 72,000.

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In 2010, another mudslide in Zhouqu County killed over 1,500 people, with more than 200 left unaccounted for.

⁠Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded comprehensive ​rescue efforts following a number of devastating weather events in ​recent days, including tornadoes and landslides.

China's state planner has also announced 30 million yuan (£3.29m) in relief funds for the region.

(c) Sky News 2026: China landslide leaves at least five dead with 12 more trapped