Mudslide in East China's Jiangxi leaves 2 dead, 10 missing

NANCHANG -- Two people have been confirmed dead and 10 others are missing after a mudslide struck a village in Suichuan county, Ji'an city, East China's Jiangxi province at around 4 am on Saturday, local authorities said.

The disaster was triggered by days of torrential rains brought by Typhoon Saudel, according to the county's flood control and drought relief headquarters.

All-out search and rescue operations are underway, while efforts are also being made to relocate affected residents and prevent secondary disasters.

Following the disaster, the Jiangxi provincial committee for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief issued a Level-III provincial emergency response for disaster relief at noon on Saturday, as Typhoon Saudel had left around 161,500 residents affected in the province.

China's Ministry of Natural Resources raised its geological disaster response for Jiangxi from Level IV to III at 11 am Saturday and dispatched a work team to the site to guide rescue efforts.

The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV national emergency response for natural disaster relief, and sent a work team and an emergency survey team with equipment including slope radar to assist with rescue operations.

Local fire and rescue authorities have dispatched 41 vehicles and 224 personnel to the site, while communications and reconnaissance drones in nearby areas have been deployed for rescue.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.