Death toll rises to 42 in southwest China landslide

The death toll from a landslide in southwest China's Guizhou Province has risen to 42 while nine were reported as missing, local authorities said Monday.

Rescuers try to find the missing people on July 26, 2019 after a landslide lashed a village in Shuicheng County in Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province on July 23. [File photo: Chengdu Business Daily/IC]

The landslide lashed a village in Shuicheng County in the city of Liupanshui at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, burying 21 houses. Rescue workers earlier raced against time to recover survivors while preventing secondary disasters.

Eleven people injured in the disaster had been taken to hospitals for treatment, according to the local emergency rescue command.

Based on life detection and the site's risk evaluation, the rescue operation ended midnight Sunday.

On Monday afternoon, more than 700 rescue officials and workers, victims' families and local residents held a memorial service for the dead at the landslide site.

Monday marked the seventh day from the time of the disaster, a key traditional date for people to pay respect to the deceased in China.