Massive landslide and flash flooding kills 7 and 20 are missing in Guizhou Province, China

Seven people are reported to have died and 20 are still missing after a landslide hit the village of Yingping in Guizhou Province, China, at about 8 pm on Wednesday 27 August 2014. A further 22 people were injured in the incident, which destroyed 77 homes, affecting 154 people in the village. The incident occurred following about 24 hours of heavy rainfall, which caused a number of flash floods in the region, and caused the breach of a small reservoir close to Yingping, which apparently contributed to the landslide hitting the village. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.

 

Central Guizhou has a warm temperate climate with high levels of rainfall all year round. Rainfall is typically highest in June when the area often receives over 200 mm of rainfall. August is drier, but typically still has around 100 mm of rain. This year’s summer has been exceptionally wet, with a number of flooding incidents across the province.

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