Landslide devastates northern China

At least 127 dead, 2,000 missing

At least 127 people are dead and  2,000 more are missing after a landslide buried homes in a remote area of China’s Gansu Province. Rescue workers were left digging with their hands and shovels near the hardest-hit city of Zhouqu since heavier equipment can’t access the site. “Sludge has become the biggest hindrance to our operations,” said the head of Zhouqu county, who goes by a the single name Diemujiangteng. “It’s too thick to walk or drive through.” Some 2,400 soldiers, along with 1,000 firefighters have been marshalled to help with the rescue effort.

New York Times